Cancer death rate in Britain down by almost a third since 1980s

Huge improvements in prevention, diagnosis and treatment have driven the fall, Cancer Research UK says

The rate of people dying from cancer in the UK has fallen by almost a third since the 1980s amid seismic progress in prevention, diagnosis and treatment, a report has found.

About 247 in every 100,000 people die from cancer each year, a 29% drop from the peak in 1989 of about 355 per 100,000, according to an analysis by Cancer Research UK (CRUK).

Cancer remains Britain’s biggest killer, causing about one in four deaths, and survival rates lag behind a number of European countries, including Romania and Poland.

However, in the past decade alone, the rate of people dying from cancer has fallen by 11%. The death rate for ovarian cancer dropped by 19% between 2012-2014 and 2022-2024, stomach cancer fell by 34% and lung cancer 22%. Bowel cancer dipped 6%, breast cancer 14%, cervical cancer 11% and leukaemia 9%. The oesophageal cancer death rate fell by 12%.

But some rates increased in the last decade. They included kidney cancer (up 5%), liver cancer (up 14%), eye cancer (up 26%) and gallbladder cancer (up 29%). Other rates remained stable, including thyroid, pancreatic and melanoma.

Dr Sam Godfrey, the science engagement lead at CRUK, 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 was a global leader in cancer research, Godfrey said, but future progress could not be taken 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.”

Last year the Guardian revealed how British cancer patients were being denied life-saving drugs and trials of revolutionary treatments were being derailed by red tape and extra costs brought on by Brexit.

The UK’s exit from the EU had “damaged the practical ability” of doctors to offer NHS patients life-saving new drugs via international clinical trials, according to the most comprehensive report of its kind.

In the new analysis, CRUK said various factors had led to falling cancer death rates. They include smoking bans and the rollout of screening programmes for breast, bowel and cervical cancers. Death rates for cervical cancer had fallen by 75% since the 1970s, in large part because of the NHS cervical screening programme, the charity said.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which is given to schoolchildren, was also driving down cervical cancers. About 6.5 million people have had the vaccine in the UK since it was introduced in 2008.

Meanwhile, death rates for prostate cancer decreased by 11% in the past decade, in part because of better treatments. Abiraterone, a drug that blocks testosterone from fuelling prostate cancer, was developed by CRUK scientists.

However, a growing and ageing population means more people are being diagnosed with cancer – one person every 75 seconds in the UK – and the overall number of people dying from the disease continues to rise.

Despite the huge numbers affected, three-quarters of NHS hospital trusts are failing cancer patients, a Guardian analysis found last year, prompting experts to declare a national emergency.

Last month, the government pledged £2bn to resolve the crisis by transforming cancer services, with millions of patients promised faster diagnoses, quicker treatment and more support to live well.

Some cancer performance targets have not been met by the NHS since 2015. Under the national cancer plan, all three waiting times standards would be reached by 2029, ministers said.