UK Leukaemia incidence statistics
UK Leukaemia incidence statistics
This page presents leukaemia incidence statistics by sex, age and trends over time.
The term ‘leukaemia’ refers to a group of illnesses that are characterised by a proliferation of white blood cells or their precursors. The various types of leukaemia differ substantially in their cellular origin and clinical behaviour and it is important to recognise this when interpreting statistics on incidence and mortality of ‘leukaemia’ as a whole. The ICD code for leukaemia is ICD9 204-208 and ICD10 C91-95.
Leukaemia incidence by sex
Leukaemias represent less than 3% of all cancers in the UK. Overall leukaemia is slightly more common in men than women. Grouped together leukaemias are the tenth most common cancer in men and ninth in women. In the UK in 2006 there were 7,237 new cases of leukaemia registered ( Table 1.1). 1-4
Leukaemia incidence by age
Figure 1.1 shows how incidence varies with age. The highest incidence in children is in the 0-4 age group. Rates then decline until the early 20s, and increase slowly from the early 30s to the early 50s. Leukaemia incidence then rises more sharply and the rates reach their peak in the over 85s.
It has been estimated that the lifetime risk of developing leukaemia is 1 in 76 for men and 1 in 108 for women in the UK. These were calculated in February 2009 using incidence and mortality data for 2001-2005. 5
Leukaemia incidence trends
Leukaemia incidence rates in Great Britain increased slowly until the end of the 1990s ( Figure 1.2). It is likely that better diagnostic tools and improvements in registration partly account for this. However, the last few years have started to see a fall in incidence rates.
Figure 1.3 shows the leukaemia incidence trend in the UK.
UK Leukaemia mortality statistics
This page presents leukaemia mortality statistics by age and sex and trends over time.
Leukaemia mortality rates by age and sex
In 2007 there were 4,350 deaths from leukaemia in the UK 1-3. ( Table 2.1) Leukaemia is the 10th most common cause of death from cancer in the UK.
Leukaemia death rates are very low in people under 50 years old, rising steadily through the 50s and 60s, and increasing dramatically in the over 70's ( Figure 2.1).
Leukaemia mortality trends
Mortality for all leukaemias combined for both men and women in the UK shows a very gradual decline between the late 1970's and 2007 ( Figure 2.2).
Leukaemia survival statistics
This page presents leukaemia survival statistics including one year, five year and ten year survival and also survival by age at diagnosis.
Leukaemia - one year survival rates
Figure 3.1 shows the one-year age-standardised survival rates for leukaemia patients.
Leukaemia - five year survival rates
Five-year survival rates for leukaemia patients are shown in Figure 3.2.
Leukaemia - ten year survival rates
Figure 3.3 shows the ten-year survival rates for leukaemia patients.
Leukaemia survival rates by age
Leukaemia survival rates by age at diagnosis are shown in Figure 3.4.
References
UK Leukaemia incidence statistics
- Office for National Statistics, Cancer Statistics registrations: Registrations of cancer diagnosed in 2006, England. Series MB1 no.37. 2009, National Statistics: London.
- Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit. Cancer Incidence in Wales. 2009
- ISD Online 2009, Information and Statistics Division, NHS Scotland.
- Northern Ireland Cancer Registry 2009. Cancer Incidence and Mortality
- Statistical Information Team, Cancer Research UK. 2009
UK Leukaemia mortality statistics
- Office for National Statistics, 2009 Mortality Statistics: Cause, 2007
- ISD Online, 2009 Cancer Incidence and Mortality data, 2007
- Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency 2009 Northern Ireland Mortality data, 2007.
Leukaemia survival statistics
- Coleman, M.P., et al. Cancer Survival Trends in England & Wales, 1971-1995 Deprivation & NHS Region. 1999: The Stationery Office
- Coleman, M.P., et al. Trends and socioeconomic inequalities in cancer survival in England and Wales up to 2001. Br J Cancer, 2004. 90(7):p. 1367-73