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.
Published by Statista Research Department, Dec 19, 2023

Key insights

Number of individuals diagnosed with cancer aged over 70 years in England in 2021
309k
Incidence rate of cancer per 100,000 population in England in 2018
Males - 697.5 Females - 550.7
Share of people who have known a family member affected by cancer in Great Britain
53.3%
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks
Editor’s Picks
Current statistics on this topic

Rate of newly diagnosed cases of cancer per 100,000 population in England in 2021, by age group and gender*

Diseases

Cancer cases rate per 100,000 population in England 2021 by age and gender

Share of women who were screened under the cervical screening program in England from 2011 to 2024

Prevention

Women screened by the cervical cancer screening program in England 2011-2024

Do you know someone personally, or someone you are in direct contact with, who has been affected by cancer?

Diseases

Individual's experiences with cancer in Great Britain 2019

Recommended statistics

Diagnosis

5

Diagnosis

Treatment

9

Treatment

Mortality

7

Mortality

Prevention

5

Prevention

Waiting times in England

6

Waiting times in England

Waiting times in Scotland

5

Waiting times in Scotland

Waiting times in Wales

5

Waiting times in Wales

Further reports

Get the best reports to understand your industry

State of health in the United Kingdom (UK)
State of health in the United Kingdom (UK)
National Health Service finance in the UK
National Health Service finance in the UK
Cancer worldwide
Cancer worldwide
Skin cancer in the United Kingdom (UK)
Skin cancer in the United Kingdom (UK)

Contact

Get in touch with us. We are happy to help.
Statista Locations
Contact Meredith Alda
Meredith Alda
Sales Manager– Contact (United States)
Email
support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

Contact Yolanda Mega
Yolanda Mega
Operations Manager– Contact (Asia)
Email
asia.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm (SGT)

Contact Ayana Mizuno
Ayana Mizuno
Junior Business Development Manager– Contact (Asia)
Email
asia.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 10:00am - 6:00pm (JST)

Contact Lodovica Biagi
Lodovica Biagi
Director of Operations– Contact (Europe)
Email
eu.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9:30am - 5pm (GMT)

Contact Carolina Dulin
Carolina Dulin
Group Director - LATAM– Contact (Latin America)
Email
latam@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)