Cancer mortality for common cancers

Common cancers

Almost half of all cancer deaths are lung, bowel, breast or prostate cancer, 2017-2019, UK

Males

Almost half of all cancer deaths in males are from lung, prostate or bowel cancer, 2017-2019, UK

Females

Almost half of all cancer deaths in females are from lung, breast or bowel cancer, 2017-2019, UK

Lung cancer is by far the most common cause of cancer death in the UK, accounting for around a fifth (21%) of all cancer deaths in females and males combined (2017-2019).[1-4] The next most common causes of cancer death in UK people are bowel (10%), prostate, (7%) and breast (7%) cancers. Though there are more than 200 types of cancer, just these four types – lung, bowel, prostate and breast – together account for almost half (45%) of all cancer deaths in the UK (2017-2019).[1-4] Two of these types occur mainly or exclusively in only one sex.

The 20 Most Common Causes of Cancer Deaths, UK, 2017-2019

Data in this chart do not sum to the all cancers combined total provided elsewhere, because 'Brain, other CNS (central nervous system) and intracranial' includes tumours that are malignant and non-malignant but only the malignant tumours are included in 'all cancers combined' total.

See also

Cancer survival for common cancers

Cancer incidence for common cancers in the UK

Cancer survival for common cancers in the UK

References

  1. Data were provided by the Office for National Statistics on request, November 2019. Similar data can be found here: http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths.
  2. Data were provided by ISD Scotland on request, October 2019. Similar data can be found here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications/index.asp.
  3. Data were provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry on request, June 2020. Similar data can be found here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/.

About this data

Data is for UK, 2017-2019, ICD-10 C00-C97. Bladder (C67), Bowel (C18-C20), Breast (C50), Head and Neck (C00-C14, C30-C32), Lung (C33-C34), Ovary (C56-57.4) Prostate (C61), Uterus (C54-C55)

Last reviewed:

Lung cancer is by far the most common cause of cancer deaths in males accounting for around a fifth (21%) of all male cancer deaths (2017-2019).[1-4] The next most common causes of cancer death in UK males are prostate (14%) and bowel (10%) cancers. Lung, prostate and bowel cancers together account for nearly half (45%) of all male cancer deaths in the UK. One of the UK ten most common causes of male cancer death is sex-specific (prostate), compared with two of the ten most common in females (uterus and ovary). Bladder and head and neck cancers are among the UK ten most common causes of cancer deaths in males, but not in females.

The Three Most Common Causes of Cancer Death in Males, Percentages of All Cancer Deaths (C00-C97), UK, 2017-2019

Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.

The 10 Most Common Causes of Cancer Death in Males, UK, 2017-2019

Data in this chart do not sum to the all cancers combined total provided elsewhere, because 'Brain, other CNS (central nervous system) and intracranial' includes tumours that are malignant, benign and of uncertain or unknown behaviour but only the malignant tumours are included in 'all cancers combined' total.

See also

Cancer incidence for common cancers in the UK

Cancer survival for common cancers in the UK

References

  1. England and Wales data were accessed from Nomis mortality statistics by underlying cause, sex and age, November 2021: Nomis mortality statistics by underlying cause, sex and age.
  2. Scotland data were provided by ISD Scotland on request, November 2021. Similar data can be found here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications/index.asp(link is external).
  3. Northern Ireland data were provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry on request, February 2022. Similar data can be found here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/.
  4. Population data were published by the Office for National statistics, accessed July 2020. The data can be found here: Population estimates for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, provisional: mid-2019.

About this data

Data is for UK, 2017-2019, ICD-10 C00-C97. Bladder (C67), Bowel (C18-C20), Breast (C50), Head and Neck (C00-C14, C30-C32), Lung (C33-C34), Ovary (C56-57.4) Prostate (C61), Uterus (C54-C55)

Last reviewed:

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in UK females, accounting for around a fifth (21%) of all female cancer deaths (2017-2019).[1-4] The next most common causes of cancer death in UK females are breast cancer (15%) and bowel cancer (10%). Lung, breast and bowel cancers together account for nearly half (45%) of all female cancer deaths in the UK. Two of the UK ten most common causes of female cancer death are sex-specific (uterus and ovary), compared with just one of the ten most common in males (prostate). Breast cancer is among the UK ten most common causes of cancer death in females, but not in males.

The Three Most Common Causes of Cancer Death in Females, Percentages of All Cancer Deaths (C00-C97), UK, 2017-2019

Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.

The 10 Most Common Causes of Cancer Death in Females, UK, 2017-2019

Data in this chart do not sum to the all cancers combined total provided elsewhere, because 'Brain, other CNS (central nervous system) and intracranial' includes tumours that are malignant, benign and of uncertain or unknown behaviour but only the malignant tumours are included in 'all cancers combined' total.

See also

Cancer incidence for common cancers in the UK

Cancer survival for common cancers in the UK

References

  1. England and Wales data were accessed from Nomis mortality statistics by underlying cause, sex and age, November 2021: Nomis mortality statistics by underlying cause, sex and age.
  2. Scotland data were provided by ISD Scotland on request, November 2021. Similar data can be found here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications/index.asp(link is external).
  3. Northern Ireland data were provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry on request, February 2022. Similar data can be found here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/.
  4. Population data were published by the Office for National statistics, accessed July 2020. The data can be found here: Population estimates for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, provisional: mid-2019.

About this data

Data is for UK, 2017-2019, ICD-10 C00-C97. Bladder (C67), Bowel (C18-C20), Breast (C50), Head and Neck (C00-C14, C30-C32), Lung (C33-C34), Ovary (C56-57.4) Prostate (C61), Uterus (C54-C55)

Last reviewed:

Mortality trends over the last decade in the UK (between 2007-2009 and 2017-2019) vary by cancer type and sex.[1-4] For most cancer types, mortality trends largely reflect changes in incidence and survival, e.g. increased incidence without sufficient survival improvement results in increased mortality.

Liver cancer has shown the fastest increase in mortality (within the current 20 most common UK causes of cancer death) over the past decade in the UK for both females and males. Liver cancer mortality rates have increased by 45% in females and 42% in males over the past decade in the UK.

The second and third fastest-increasing causes of UK cancer death are uterine cancer and gallbladder cancer for females, and non-melanoma skin cancer* and small intestine cancer for males.

Stomach cancer has shown the fastest decrease in mortality (within the current 20 most common UK causes of cancer death) over the past decade in the UK for both females and males. Stomach cancer mortality rates have decreased by 30% in females and 34% in males over the past decade in the UK.

The second and third fastest-decreasing causes of UK cancer death are cancer of unknown primary and cervical cancer for females, and cancer of unknown primary and lung cancers for males.

Pancreatic cancer and melanoma skin cancer are the only cancer types in which the mortality trend differs between the sexes (among cancer types which appear in the current 20 most common UK causes of cancer death for both sexes). In females pancreatic cancer mortality has remained stable, while in males it has increased. In females melanoma skin cancer mortality has decreased, while in males it has remained stable.

The 20 Most Common Causes of Cancer Death 2019, Percentage Change in European Age-Standardised Three Year Average Mortality Rates, Females, UK, 2007-2009 and 2017-2019

The 20 Most Common Causes of Cancer Death 2019, Percentage Change in European Age-Standardised Three Year Average Mortality Rates, Males, UK, 2007-2009 and 2017-2019

*Due to a coding error in England and Wales 2017 mortality data, the number of NMSC deaths is slightly inflated. The 2017 data has been omitted and a two year average is provided. Non-melanoma skin cancer data reported here are for 2007-2009 to 2018-2019.

See also

Find out more about the counting and coding of this data

Cancer mortality by cancer type

Preventable cancers

Cancer incidence for common cancers in the UK

References

  1. England and Wales data were accessed from Nomis mortality statistics by underlying cause, sex and age, November 2021: Nomis mortality statistics by underlying cause, sex and age.
  2. Scotland data were provided by ISD Scotland on request, November 2021. Similar data can be found here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications/index.asp(link is external).
  3. Northern Ireland data were provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry on request, February 2022. Similar data can be found here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/.
  4. Population data were published by the Office for National statistics, accessed July 2020. The data can be found here: Population estimates for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, provisional: mid-2019.

About this data

Data is for UK, 2007-2009 and 2017-2019 ICD-10 codes All cancers (C00-C97), Cancer of Unknown Primary (C77-80), Cervix (C53), Gallbladder (C23), Head and Neck (C00-C14, C30-C32), Liver (C22), Lung (C33-C34), Melanoma Skin Cancer (C43), Pancreas (C25), Small Intestine (C17), Stomach (C16) and Uterus (C54-C55). Data is for UK 2007-2009 and 2018-2019 for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (C44)

A coding error in the data for England and Wales in 2016 and 2017 resulted in a seeming increase in the mortality rate of non-melanoma skin cancer. Deaths due to squamous cell cancer with unknown body site (C80), were assigned to non-melanoma skin cancer (C44). Because deaths from non-melanoma skin cancer are rare a relatively small increase in the numbers has resulted in a large increase in rates.

Last reviewed:

Mortality rates are projected to fall for most types of cancer in the UK between 2023-2025 and 2038-2040.[1] Among cancer types where rates are projected to fall, the size of the overall decrease between 2023-2025 and 2038-2040 ranges from less than 1% (kidney cancer) to 29% (mesothelioma).

For a smaller number of cancer types, mortality rates are projected to rise in the UK between 2023-2025 and 2038-2040. Among cancer types where rates are projected to rise, the size of the overall increase between 2023-2025 and 2038-2040 ranges from 1% (small intestinal cancer) to 45% (anal cancer).

For almost all cancer types – even those where age-standardised mortality rates are projected to fall – absolute numbers of deaths are projected to rise because of population growth and ageing.

These projections reflect past trends in cancer mortality. They do not model the possible impact of current or future changes which may increase or decrease cancer incidence or mortality. For HPV-related cancers (cervical, pharyngeal, anal, vulval, penile, vaginal, and oral cavity), HPV vaccination is expected to substantially decrease future incidence and therefore probably also mortality.[2,3]

Selected Cancers, European Age-Standardised Mortality Rates and Average Annual Number of Deaths, Females, UK, 2023-2025 and 2038-2040

  Age-standardised Rate (per 100,000 females) Average Annual Deaths
  2023-2025 (Projected) 2038-2040 (Projected) % Change 2023-2025 (Projected) 2038-2040 (Projected) % Change
Lung 48 45 -6 18124 20859 15
Breast 29 25 -13 10752 11385 6
Bowel 19 18 -8 7536 8764 16
Pancreas 13 13 -5 5027 5940 18
Cancer of unknown primary 12 10 -14 4659 5077 9
Ovary 11 9 -15 4005 4091 2
Uterus 8 9 12 3047 4248 39
Liver 7 7 4 2600 3392 30
Brain, other CNS and intracranial 7 7 -1 2472 2849 15
Oesophagus 7 6 -10 2523 2864 14
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 6 5 -13 2323 2579 11
Leukaemia 5 4 -14 1923 2083 8
Bladder 5 5 8 1914 2682 40
Kidney 5 5 -4 1842 2195 19
Myeloma 4 4 -9 1516 1764 16
Head and neck 4 4 13 1440 1946 35
Stomach 4 3 -14 1399 1522 9
Melanoma skin 3 2 -13 1027 1117 9
Vulva 1 2 20 560 865 54
Gallbladder 1 1 0 495 617 25

Download the data table (xlsx)

Selected Cancers, European Age-Standardised Mortality Rates and Average Annual Number of Deaths, Males, UK, 2023-2025 and 2038-2040

  Age-standardised Rate (per 100,000 males)     Average Annual Deaths    
  2023-2025 (Projected) 2038-2040 (Projected) % Change 2023-2025 (Projected) 2038-2040 (Projected) % Change
Lung 59 52 -12 18699 20635 10
Prostate 44 42 -5 13249 17545 32
Bowel 29 26 -11 9123 10359 14
Oesophagus 18 16 -11 5866 6466 10
Pancreas 17 17 -3 5497 6648 21
Cancer of unknown primary 14 12 -12 4363 4932 13
Liver 14 15 13 4322 6067 40
Bladder 14 12 -11 4112 5044 23
Head and neck 11 13 12 3591 4794 34
Kidney 11 11 1 3391 4305 27
Brain, other CNS and intracranial 10 10 -1 3237 3714 15
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 10 9 -11 3018 3444 14
Leukaemia 9 8 -15 2914 3247 11
Stomach 8 7 -14 2571 2842 11
Mesothelioma 7 5 -32 2183 1939 -11
Myeloma 7 7 1 2068 2709 31
Melanoma skin 5 4 -12 1527 1678 10
Non-melanoma skin 1 1 -9 362 468 29
Small intestine 1 1 8 360 489 36
Thyroid 1 1 0 193 242 25

Download the data table (xlsx)

Vulval cancer has the fastest-increasing projected mortality rate in females, rising by more than 20% between 2023-2025 and 2038-2040. Liver cancer has the fastest-increasing projected mortality rate in males, rising by more than 13% between 2023-2025 and 2038-2040.

The Five Cancers with the Highest Projected Percentage Change in European Age-Standardised Mortality Rates, Females, UK, 2023-2025 to 2038-2040

Download this data (xlsx)

The Five Cancers with the Highest Projected Percentage Change in European Age-Standardised Mortality Rates, Males, UK, 2023-2025 to 2038-2040

Download this data (xlsx)

References

Calculated by the Cancer Intelligence Team at Cancer Research UK, February 2023. Age-period-cohort modelling approach described here, using 2020-based population projections (Office for National Statistics) and observed cancer mortality data (1975-2018).

About this data

Projections are based on mortality data from 1975-2018 (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). ICD-10 codes all cancers combined C00-C97; bladder C67; bowel C18-C20; brain, other CNS and intracranial tumours C70-C72, C75.1-C75.3, D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43, D44.3-D44.5; breast C50; cancer of unknown primary C77-C80; gallbladder C23; head and neck C00-C14, C30-C32; kidney C64-C66, C68; leukaemia C91-C95; liver C22; lung C33-C34; melanoma skin C43; mesothelioma C45; myeloma C90; non-Hodgkin lymphoma C82-C86; non-melanoma C44; oesophageal C15; ovarian C56-C57.4; pancreatic C25; prostate C61; small intestine C17; stomach C16; thyroid C73; uterine C54-C55; vulval C51. Cancer types in the tables above are projected to have the most deaths in 2023-2025 in males or females. Mortality data for bone sarcoma in males and cervical cancer in females were not appropriate for projections; while these cancer sites appear in the top 20 common cancers for males and females, respectively, they have been excluded from the list of common cancers.

Projections are based on observed incidence and mortality rates and therefore implicitly include changes in cancer risk factors, diagnosis and treatment. It is not possible to assess the statistical significance of changes between 2018 (observed) and 2040 (projected) figures. Confidence intervals are not calculated for the projected figures. Projections are by their nature uncertain because unexpected events in future could change the trend. It is not sensible to calculate a boundary of uncertainty around these already uncertain point estimates. Changes are described as 'increase' or 'decrease' if there is any difference between the point estimates.

More on projections methodology

Last reviewed:

There are relatively few cancer types where European age-standardised mortality rates differ significantly between UK constituent countries. Such differences are often due to variation in incidence rates. Between-country variation is discussed on the types of cancer pages.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in all the UK countries, and bowel cancer is second most common.[1-3] The next most common causes of cancer death are prostate and breast cancers. The order of these causes vary between UK countries but the difference in number of deaths is often small.

See also

Cancer incidence for common cancers in the UK

Cancer survival for common cancers in the UK

References

  1. Data were provided by the Office for National Statistics on request, November 2019. Similar data can be found here: http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths.
  2. Data were provided by ISD Scotland on request, October 2019. Similar data can be found here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications/index.asp.
  3. Data were provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry on request, June 2020. Similar data can be found here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/.

About this data

Data is for UK, 2018, ICD-10 C00-C97. Bowel (C18-C20), Breast (C50), Lung (C33-C34), Prostate (C61)

Last reviewed:

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Acknowledgements

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