Epidemiology of common cancer
- Cancer is a major cause of morbidity in the UK
- 250,000 people are diagnosed each year
- Overall, 1:3 people will develop some form of cancer during their
life
- There are more than 200 different types of cancer
- Breast, lung, colorectal and prostate cancer account for over 50%
of new cases
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK despite being
rare in men
Most common cancer (2000)
| |
Males |
Females |
Total |
% Total |
| Breast |
240 |
40 467 |
40 707 |
15 |
| Lung |
23 245 |
15 165 |
38 410 |
14 |
| Bowel |
18 956 |
16 344 |
35 300 |
13 |
| Prostate |
27 149 |
Nil |
27 149 |
10 |
| Bladder |
7 876 |
3 205 |
11 081 |
4 |
| Stomach |
6 088 |
3 572 |
9 660 |
4 |
Age
- Cancer occurs predominantly in older people
- 65% cases are diagnosed over the age of 65 years
- Less than 1% occur in children
- Breast cancer accounts for 50% of all cancers diagnosed 40-60
years
Men
- Prostate cancer has overtaken lung cancer as the commonest cancer
diagnosed in men
- Incidence of prostate cancer is rising due to the widespread use
of PSA
- Lung cancer is the second most common cancer
- Incidence of lung cancer is falling
Women
- Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in women
- Accounts for 30% of all female cancer
- The second commonest cancer in women is colorectal cancer
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