Cancer statistics

This section gives cancer statistics for the UK, as well as what proportion of cancer cases could be prevented through improved diet, physical activity and body weight.

This page has statistics for all cancers, but you can click on the types of cancer below to find more detailed statistics for that cancer.

Alternatively, you can find out how the UK compares to the rest of the world.

Cancer Incidence

In the UK in 2008, 309,189 cases of cancer were diagnosed.

Of these cancer cases, 155,155 were in men, and 154,034 were in women.

Cancer mortality

In the UK in 2009, there were 155,859 cancer deaths.

Of these deaths, 81,883 were men and 73,976 were women.

Preventable cancers

Overall, scientists estimate that about a third (37%) of 12 of the most common cancers in the UK could be prevented through improved diet, physical activity and body weight. Find out more about our Recommendations for Cancer Prevention.

The table below includes preventability estimates by type of cancer. These estimates only include diet, physical activity and weight, and not other important risk factors such as smoking and sun damage.

Type of cancer	Estimated % preventable in UK through healthy changes	Approximate number of UK cases per year that could be prevented
Mouth, pharynx and larynx	67	5,400
Oesophagus	75	6,100
Lung	33	13,400
Stomach	45	3,400
Pancreas	41	3,300
Gallbladder	16	110
Liver	17	610
Bowel	43	17,200
Breast	42	20,000
Endometrium (womb lining)	56	4,300
Prostate	20	7,400
Kidney	19	1,700
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You can find out more about how these preventability estimates were calculated.

The figures on incidence and mortality come from the following sources: for England (incidence); for Wales (incidence); for England and Wales (mortality); for Scotland; and for Northern Ireland.