Cancer statistics
Estimate of preventable cancers in the UK
Here we provide the latest cancer statistics for the UK, as well as what proportion of cancer cases could be prevented through improved diet, physical activity and body weight.
Cancer incidence
In the UK in 2013, 351,578 cases of cancer were diagnosed.
Of these cancer cases, 179,093 were in men, and 172,485 were in women.
Cancer mortality
In the UK in 2013, there were 161,272 cancer deaths.
Of these deaths, 85,136 were men and 76,136 were women.
Preventable cancers
Overall, scientists estimate that about a third of the 13 most common cancers in the UK could be prevented through improved diet, physical activity and body weight. 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Bowel cancer preventability statistics Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK. In 2013, 42,222 cases of bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, were diagnosed. |
45 | 19,000 |
|
Breast cancer preventability statistics Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the UK. In 2013, 53,339 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. |
38 | 20,300 |
|
Gallbladder cancer preventability statistics In the UK in 2013, 1,932 cases of cancer of the gallbladder were diagnosed. |
17 | 330 |
|
Kidney cancer preventability statistics Kidney cancer is the seventh most common cancer in the UK. In 2013, 11,634 cases of kidney cancer were diagnosed. |
19 | 2,200 |
|
Liver cancer preventability statistics In the UK in 2013, 5,373 cases of liver cancer were diagnosed. Of these cancer cases, 3,466 were in men and 1,907 were in women. |
23 | 1,200 |
|
Lung cancer preventability statistics Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK. In 2013, 45,372 cases of lung cancer were diagnosed. |
33 | 15,000 |
|
Mouth, pharynx and larynx cancer preventability statistics Mouth and throat cancer (also known as mouth, pharynx and larynx cancer) is the eighth most common cancer in the UK with 10,655 cases in 2013. |
67 | 7,100 |
|
Oesophagus cancer preventability statistics In the UK in 2013, 8,779 cases of oesophageal cancer were diagnosed. |
34 | 3,000 |
|
Ovarian cancer preventability statistics Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer in women in the UK. In 2013, 7,027 women were diagnosed with cancer of the ovaries. |
4 | 280 |
|
Pancreatic cancer preventability statistics Pancreatic cancer is the tenth most common cancer in the UK. In 2013, 9,389 cases of pancreatic cancer were diagnosed. |
15 | 1,400 |
|
Prostate cancer (advanced) preventability statistics Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. In 2013, 47,189 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Of these, about 20% were advanced prostate cancer. |
9 | 940 |
|
Stomach cancer preventability statistics In the UK in 2013, 7,055 cases of stomach cancer were diagnosed. |
17 | 1,200 |
|
Womb cancer preventability statistics Womb cancer (also known as endometrial or uterine cancer) is the fourth most common cancer in women in the UK with 8,784 cases in 2013. |
44 | 3,900 |