UK Thyroid Cancer incidence statistics
UK Thyroid Cancer incidence statistics
This page contains thyroid cancer incidence statistics for the UK with information by sex, by age, trends over time and geographic variation. The ICD code for thyroid cancer is ICD9 193, and ICD 10 C73.
Thyroid cancer incidence by sex
In 2006, 1,933 people were diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the UK. Thyroid cancer is within the top twenty most common cancers for UK females (number 18) , with 1,421 new cases diagnosed in 2006 ( Table 1.1) 1-4. This compares to 512 cases in males - giving a male:female ratio of 1:3.
It has been estimated that the lifetime risk of developing thyroid cancer is 1 in 842 for men and 1 in 324 for women in the UK. These were calculated on February 2009 using incidence and mortality data for 2001-2005 6.
Thyroid cancer incidence by age
Figure 1.1 shows the age-specific cases and rates for thyroid cancer in the UK.Thyroid cancer is rare in children, while in adults the incidence rates rise steadily with age. Although the rates are highest in the over 75s, there is a substantial number of cases at younger adult age. Almost half (48%) of all cases occur in people aged less than 50 years.
Trends in thyroid cancer incidence
In Great Britain the age-standardised incidence rates have more than doubled from 1.4 to 2.9 per 100,000 persons between 1975 and 2006.
Figure 1.3 shows the thyroid cancer incidence trend for the UK.
In the UK the age-standardised incidence rates have increased from 1.8 to 2.9 per 100,000 population between 1993 and 2006. There has been a larger increase in female incidence rates, from 2.4 to 4.2 per 100,000 population. ( Figure 1.2).
Geographic variation of thyroid cancer incidence
In 2002 there were 19,034 new cases of thyroid cancer diagnosed in the European Union (EU). The highest incidence rate was in Malta, where the female rate was more than seven times higher than the rate of the lowest ranking country, Bulgaria (12.6 versus 1.7 per 100,000 females) . More cases occur in females aged 15-44 than in any other age group. Age-standardised rates for the UK are lower than the EU average ( Figure 1.4). 5
The highest rates for thyroid cancer in the world occur in Northern America, where the female age-standardised rate is 8.1 per 100,000 females, compared with 1.4 per 100,000 females in Western Africa. Incidence is low in all parts of Africa. ( Figure 1.5) 5
UK Thyroid Cancer mortality statistics
This page presents thyroid cancer mortality statistics including by age and sex and trends over time.
Thyroid cancer mortality in the UK
Thyroid cancer caused 341 deaths in 2007 in the UK.
The annual number of deaths in the UK and its constituent countries together with the rates for the year 2007 are shown in Table 2.11-3.
Thyroid cancer mortality by age and sex
The distribution of deaths by age for males and females separately are shown in Figure 2.21-3.
Thyroid cancer mortality trends
The age-standardised mortality rates between 1971 and 2007 for the UK are shown in Figure 2.11-3.
Thyroid Cancer survival statistics
This page presents thyroid cancer survival statistics, including one year survival, five year survival and survival by age.
Thyroid cancer - one year survival rates
Figure 3.1 shows age-standardised one-year survival rates for patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
Thyroid cancer - five year survival rates
The five-year survival rates for thyroid cancer patients are shown in Figure 3.2.
Thyroid cancer survival by age
Thyroid cancer survival rates by age at diagnosis are shown in Figure 3.3
References
UK Thyroid Cancer incidence statistics
- Office for National Statistics, Cancer Statistics registrations: Registrations of cancer diagnosed in 2006, England. Series MB1 no.37. 2009, National Statistics: London.
- ISD Online. Information and Statistics Division, NHS Scotland, 2009.
- Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit. Cancer Incidence in Wales. 2009
- Northern Ireland Cancer Registry 2009. Cancer Incidence and Mortality
- IARC. GLOBOCAN 2002. Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide (2002 estimates). 2006
- Statistical Information Team, Cancer Research UK, 2009
UK Thyroid Cancer mortality statistics
- Office for National Statistics Mortality Statistics: Cause. England and Wales 2007 London TSO 2009
- ISD Online, 2009, Cancer Mortality in Scotland, 2007
- Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, 2009, Cancer Mortality in Northern Ireland, 2007
Thyroid Cancer 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.