Cancer care in the United Kingdom - Statistics & Facts

Cancer forms when abnormal cells grow and divide in an uncontrolled way. This normally starts due to gene changes in a single cell or a group of cells, which are known as mutations. There have to be multiple mutations before a normal cell turns into a cancer cell. Cancers are grouped according to the type of cell they start in. They include carcinomas, sarcomas, leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and brain and spinal cord cancers.

Risk factors for cancer

A lot of cancer cases are due to environmental factors such as unsafe sun exposure, smoking, an inactive lifestyle, alcohol use and being overweight. However, genetics may also be responsible, with some gene mutations being inherited. Unfortunately, the incidence rate of cancer in the United Kingdom has risen by almost 60 percent since 1995 and the number of people living with cancer is expected to more than double by 2030. Age doesn’t necessarily influence who can get cancer, although the majority of cases occur among individuals aged over 50 years. Certain cancers are naturally gender specific, such as prostate cancer and cervical cancer. However, other cancers do not discriminate based on gender.

Cancer treatment and screening

Many forms of cancer, depending on the severity, can be treated with surgery followed by chemotherapy, radiotherapy and in some cases, hormone therapy. According to a survey conducted by the National Health Service (NHS), the majority of individuals saw their general practitioner once or twice before being sent to a cancer specialist for further assessment. Respondents said they were given a choice of different types of cancer treatment, with the possible side effects explained in an understandable way. The NHS offers three types of cancer screening to adults in the United Kingdom, these are cervical screening which is offered to women aged between 25 and 64 years, breast cancer screening for women aged between 50 and 70 years and bowel cancer screening offered to individuals over 50 years old, or those with a predisposition or family history. Cancer screenings have proven an effective way of checking individuals for any abnormalities or tumor growths, and have thus attributed to more individuals being successfully treated for cancer in the early stages of disease diagnosis.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Number of individuals diagnosed with cancer aged over 70 years in England in 2018: 166k

Incidence rate of cancer per 100,000 population in England in 2018: Males - 687.3 Females - 545.3

Share of people who have known a family member affected by cancer in Great Britain: 53.3%

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Rate of newly diagnosed cases of cancer per 100,000 population in England in 2020, by age group and gender*

Diseases

Cancer cases rate per 100,000 population in England 2020 by age and gender

Share of women who were screened under the cervical screening program in England from 2011 to 2022

Prevention

Women screened by the cervical cancer screening program in England 2011-2022

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Diseases

Individual's experiences with cancer in Great Britain 2019

Recommended statistics

Cancer diagnosis

Basic Statistic Cancer conditions in the United Kingdom 2018, by age
Cancer conditions in the United Kingdom 2018, by age
Share of adults diagnosed with a cancer condition* in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018, by age
Basic Statistic Cancer cases rate per 100,000 population in England 2020 by age and gender
Cancer cases rate per 100,000 population in England 2020 by age and gender
Rate of newly diagnosed cases of cancer per 100,000 population in England in 2020, by age group and gender*
Basic Statistic Newly diagnosed cancer in England 1995-2019 by gender
Newly diagnosed cancer in England 1995-2019 by gender
Registration of newly diagnosed cancer incidents in England from 1995 to 2019, by gender*
Basic Statistic Ranking of common cancers in Scotland 2020
Ranking of common cancers in Scotland 2020
Ranking of common cancers in Scotland in 2020
Basic Statistic Cancer cases in Northern Ireland 2000-2019
Cancer cases in Northern Ireland 2000-2019
Number of cases of cancer in Northern Ireland from 2000 to 2019
Basic Statistic Number of GP visits before being diagnosed with cancer in the United Kingdom 2021
Number of GP visits before being diagnosed with cancer in the United Kingdom 2021
Before cancer diagnosis, how many times did you speak to your GP about health problems caused by cancer?
Basic Statistic Cancer specialist referral from GP in England 2010-2019
Cancer specialist referral from GP in England 2010-2019
Share of individuals who saw their general practitioner once/twice before being referred to a cancer specialist in England from 2010 to 2019
Basic Statistic Diagnostic tests for cancer in the last 12 months in England 2012-2019
Diagnostic tests for cancer in the last 12 months in England 2012-2019
Share of respondents who had diagnostic tests for cancer in the last 12 months in England from 2012 to 2019
Basic Statistic Cervical cancer screening program: women covered in England 2021/22, by age
Cervical cancer screening program: women covered in England 2021/22, by age
Share of women who have been screened for cervical cancer in the past five years in England in 2021/22, by age and coverage
Basic Statistic Women never screened for breast cancer in England 2020, by age group
Women never screened for breast cancer in England 2020, by age group
Share of women never screened for breast cancer in England in 2020, by age group*

Cancer treatment

Premium Statistic Medication used by adults with cancer in the United Kingdom 2018
Medication used by adults with cancer in the United Kingdom 2018
Distribution of medication use among adults diagnosed with cancer in the United Kingdom in 2018, by age
Basic Statistic Lifestyle choices of individuals with cancer in the United Kingdom 2014-2018
Lifestyle choices of individuals with cancer in the United Kingdom 2014-2018
Share of lifestyle trends of adults diagnosed with cancer in the United Kingdom in 2014 and 2018
Basic Statistic Patients starting treatment for cancer in Wales 2018/19, by tumor
Patients starting treatment for cancer in Wales 2018/19, by tumor
Number of patients starting treatment for cancer in Wales in 2018/19, by tumor site
Premium Statistic Patients starting treatment for cancer within two months in Wales 2019
Patients starting treatment for cancer within two months in Wales 2019
Share of patients starting treatment for cancer within 2 months of referral in Wales in 2019, by cancer tumor site*
Premium Statistic Scotland: cancer patients starting treatment within 31 days of decision 2021
Scotland: cancer patients starting treatment within 31 days of decision 2021
Share of patients with cancer starting treatment within 31 days from decision to start treatment in Scotland in 4th quarter 2021, by cancer group
Basic Statistic Individuals diagnosed with cancer in Scotland 2009-2017, by treatment status
Individuals diagnosed with cancer in Scotland 2009-2017, by treatment status
Share of individuals diagnosed with cancer in Scotland from 2009 to 2017, by treatment status
Basic Statistic Surgery as a treatment for cancer in Scotland 2009-2017
Surgery as a treatment for cancer in Scotland 2009-2017
Share of individuals having surgery for a cancer diagnosis in Scotland from 2009 to 2017
Basic Statistic Radiotherapy as a treatment for cancer in Scotland 2009-2017
Radiotherapy as a treatment for cancer in Scotland 2009-2017
Share of individuals receiving radiotherapy for cancer in Scotland from 2009 to 2017
Basic Statistic Chemotherapy as a treatment for cancer in Scotland 2009-2017
Chemotherapy as a treatment for cancer in Scotland 2009-2017
Share of individuals receiving chemotherapy for cancer in Scotland from 2009 to 2017
Basic Statistic Hormone therapy as a treatment for cancer in Scotland 2009-2017
Hormone therapy as a treatment for cancer in Scotland 2009-2017
Share of individuals receiving hormone therapy for cancer in Scotland from 2009 to 2017

Cancer mortality

Basic Statistic Cancer mortality per incidence ratio in England 2016, by region and gender
Cancer mortality per incidence ratio in England 2016, by region and gender
Rate of mortality to cancer incidence in England in 2016, by region and gender*
Basic Statistic Most common causes of death from cancer in Scotland 2018
Most common causes of death from cancer in Scotland 2018
Ranking of most common causes of death from cancer in Scotland in 2018
Basic Statistic Most common causes of death from cancer in Scotland 2017, by gender
Most common causes of death from cancer in Scotland 2017, by gender
Ranking of most common causes of death from cancer in Scotland in 2017, by gender*
Basic Statistic Cancer mortality in Northern Ireland 2000-2019
Cancer mortality in Northern Ireland 2000-2019
Number of deaths from cancer in Northern Ireland from 2000 to 2019
Basic Statistic Cancer mortality rate in Northern Ireland 2000-2019
Cancer mortality rate in Northern Ireland 2000-2019
Mortality rate of cancer per 100,000 population in Northern Ireland from 2000 to 2019
Basic Statistic Rate of mortality from cervical cancer in England from 2011 to 2022
Rate of mortality from cervical cancer in England from 2011 to 2022
Number of deaths from cervical cancer per 100,000 population in England from 2011 to 2022
Basic Statistic Number of deaths from cervical cancer in England 2011-2022
Number of deaths from cervical cancer in England 2011-2022
Annual number of deaths from cervical cancer in England from 2011 to 2022

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