Pancreatic cancer statistics - Key Facts

• Pancreatic cancer is the eleventh most common cancer in the UK.
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• In 2006, more than 7,600 people were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the UK, that’s around 21 people every day.
• Pancreatic cancer is the eleventh most common cancer in men, with around 3,700 new cases diagnosed in 2006.
• Around 3,900 women were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the UK in 2006, making it the eighth most common cancer in women.
• More than 8 in 10 cases of pancreatic cancer occur in people aged 60 and over.
• Rates of pancreatic cancer in men have declined slightly since the 1970s.
• Pancreatic cancer rates in women have remained fairly constant since the 1970s.
• Worldwide, more than 230,000 people were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2002.

Read more in-depth UK pancreatic cancer incidence statistics.

• Overall, pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis. By the time someone has symptoms, goes to their doctor and is diagnosed, the disease is very often quite advanced.
• The one-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer has doubled since the 1970s, however the rate is still low with only 13% surviving.
• Younger pancreatic cancer patients have better survival rates than older patients. Around a quarter of patients aged 50 or under survive the disease for at least one year after diagnosis
• Around 2-3% of pancreatic cancer patients survive the disease for five years or more.

Read more in-depth pancreatic cancer survival statistics.

• Pancreatic cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death in the UK.
• In 2007, more than 7,700 people in the UK died from pancreatic cancer.

Read more in-depth UK pancreatic cancer mortality statistics.

• It is estimated that 1 in 5 pancreatic cancers are caused by cigarette smoking.
• People with type I or II diabetes have roughly twice the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
• Chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) is associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
• Obesity increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.
• People with a family history of pancreatic cancer have a higher risk of developing the disease.

Read more in-depth pancreatic cancer risk factors.

*age-standardised to the European population