Cancer death rates fall to historic low – as types with biggest drop in fatalities revealed

Cancer death rates in the UK have fallen to a historic new low, Cancer Research UK has announced.

The charity, which analysed figures, said death rates had fallen by 11% in the past decade.

It added that 247 in every 100,000 people in the UK are thought to die from cancer in any given year.

That is a 29% drop on the peak in 1989, which was 355 per 100,000, it said.

The data also showed ovarian cancer rates had fallen by 19% in the past decade, from 2012-2014 to 2022-2024, with stomach cancer dropping by 34% and lung cancer by 22%.

Bowel cancer has fallen by 6%, breast cancer by 14%, cervical cancer by 11%, leukaemia by 9% and oesophageal cancer by 12%.

But some cancer death rates have increased, with gallbladder cancer up by 29%, eye cancer by 26%, liver cancer by 14% and kidney cancer by 5%.

Others, including thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer and melanoma, have remained stable.

For cervical cancer, there has been a 75% drop in death rates since the 1970s, with the NHS cervical screening programme credited as having a big impact.

Cervical cancers are also being driven down by the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which is given to schoolchildren.

Since it was introduced in 2008, at least 6.5million people have received the vaccine in the UK.

Dr Sam Godfrey, science engagement lead at Cancer Research UK, said: “These figures represent decades of crucial scientific breakthroughs – from vaccines that prevent cancer to kinder, more targeted treatments.

“Because of this, thousands more people today can make memories, reach milestones, and spend precious time with their loved ones.

“The UK has been a global leader in cancer research, but we can’t take progress for granted.

“It’s essential that the government makes it easier and faster to set up clinical trials, as well as providing NHS staff with the time and space to carry out life-saving research.”

Death rates for prostate cancer have dropped by 11% in the past decade due to better treatments, the charity added.

It also credited smoking bans and the rollout of nationwide screening programmes for breast, bowel and cervical cancers as reasons behind the figures.

But a growing and ageing population means that, overall, the number of people dying from cancer continues to rise.

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