Stomach cancer - Key Facts
This page presents key cancer incidence, survival and mortality statistics, and the main risk factors for stomach cancer. A table of the latest stomach cancer statistics is also available. More detailed stomach cancer statistics can be found using these links: incidence, survival, mortality, risk factors, and symptoms and treatment.
- In 2008 in the UK, around 7,600 people were diagnosed with stomach cancer, that's around 21 every day.
- Stomach cancer is the ninth most common cancer in men in the UK with around 4,900 new cases in 2008.
- Stomach cancer is the fourteenth most common cancer in women in the UK with around 2,700 new cases in 2008.
- More than 9 in 10 of new cases of stomach cancer occur in people aged 50 and over.
- Stomach cancer incidence rates in Britain have halved since the late 1980s.
- Worldwide, around 988,000 people were diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2008.
- The highest rates of stomach cancer in the world are in Eastern Asia, and the lowest are in Northern and Southern Africa.
- In 2008 there were around 83,000 new cases of stomach cancer diagnosed in Europe (EU-27).
Read more in-depth UK stomach cancer incidence statistics.
section updated 01/02/12
- Over the last 25 years five-year relative survival rates for stomach cancer have tripled in Britain, but are still low at around 15%.
Read more in-depth stomach cancer survival statistics.
section updated 01/02/12
- Around 5,000 people died from stomach cancer in the UK in 2009, that's around 14 every day.
- Stomach cancer is the seventh most common cause of cancer death and accounts for around 3% of all cancer deaths.
- Stomach cancer is the seventh most common cancer in men in the UK with around 3,200 deaths in 2009.
- In women in the UK, stomach cancer is the ninth most common cancer with around 1,900 deaths in 2009.
- Stomach cancer mortality rates in the UK have fallen by around 75% over the last 40 years.
- Worldwide, an estimated 738,000 people died from stomach cancer in 2008.
Read more in-depth stomach cancer mortality statistics.
section updated 01/02/12
- Helicobacter pylori, a bacterial infection of the lining of the stomach, is a major cause of stomach cancer. Around a third of stomach cancer cases in the UK are linked to the presence of H. pylori in the stomach.
- Better living conditions with less overcrowding have led to a decrease in the prevalence of H pylori infection.
- Around 1 in 5 stomach cancers in the UK are caused by smoking, with a higher proportion in men (26%) than women (15%).
- Fruit and vegetables may have a protective effect against stomach cancer.
- People consuming high amounts of salt may have an increased risk of stomach cancer.
- Having a parent or sibling diagnosed with a stomach cancer increases risk of stomach cancer.
Read more in-depth stomach cancer risk factors.
section updated 01/02/12
| Stomach cancer - UK | Males | Females | Persons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of new cases (UK 2008) | 4,923 | 2,687 | 7,610 |
| Incidence rate per 100,000 population* | 12.6 | 5.2 | 8.6 |
| Number of deaths (UK 2009) | 3,167 | 1,851 | 5,018 |
| Mortality rate per 100,000 population* | 7.8 | 3.3 | 5.3 |
| One-year survival rate (adult patients diagnosed 2000-2001, England and Wales) | 37% | 40% | - |
| Five-year survival rate (adult patients diagnosed 2000-2001, England and Wales) | 15% | 18% | - |
| Ten-year predicted survival (for patients diagnosed in 2007, England and Wales) | - | - | 13.5% |
*age-standardised to the European population
More detailed stomach cancer statistics can be found using these links: incidence, survival, mortality, risk factors, molecular biology and genetics, and symptoms and treatment.
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