Cancer survival statistics for all cancers combined

Survival

Survive cancer for 10 or more years, 2010-11, England and Wales

Improvement

Cancer survival in the UK has doubled in the last 50 years

Higher in women

Survival is higher in females than in males, 2010-11, England and Wales

Age-standardised net survival for patients diagnosed with all cancers combined during 2010-2011 in England and Wales show that 67% of men survive their disease for at least one year, and this is predicted to fall to 49% surviving for five years or more.[1] Survival for women is slightly higher, with 74% surviving for one year or more, and 59% predicted to survive for at least five years. The difference between the sexes for all cancers combined occurs because survival for most individual cancer types is generally slightly higher for women than for men, and also because the cancers that are most common in women have higher survival than the cancers that are most common in men.

All Cancers Excluding Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (C00-C97 Excl. C44), Age-Standardised Net Survival, Adults (Aged 15-99), England and Wales, 2010-2011

1-Year Survival (%) 5-Year Survival (%) 10-Year Survival (%)
Men Net Survival 66.7 49.3 45.8
95% LCL 66.7 49.2 45.7
95% UCL 66.7 49.3 46.0
Women Net Survival 74.1 59.2 53.7
95% LCL 74.1 59.2 53.7
95% UCL 74.1 59.3 53.8
Adults Net Survival 70.4 54.3 49.8
95% LCL 70.4 54.3 49.7
95% UCL 70.5 54.3 49.9

95% LCL and 95% UCL are the 95% lower and upper confidence limits Open a glossary item around the age standardised rate Open a glossary item

Five- and ten-year survival is predicted using an excess hazard statistics model

A common misconception is to treat five-year survival as the point of 'cure'. However, survival continues to fall beyond five years after diagnosis for many cancer types. For patients diagnosed with all cancers combined during 2010-2011 in England and Wales, 46% of men and 54% of women are predicted to survive their cancer for ten years or more.[1]

All Cancers Excluding Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (C00-C97 Excl. C44), Net Survival up to Ten Years after Diagnosis, Adults (Aged 15-99), England and Wales, 2010-2011

Five- and ten-year survival is predicted using an excess hazard statistics model

Comparisons of survival between countries are made difficult due to different methodologies and criteria for including patients in analyses. Broadly similar survival for all cancers combined is reported in Scotland and Northern Ireland.[2,3]

See also

Cancer incidence statistics for all cancers combined for the UK

Cancer mortality statistics for all cancers combined for the UK

References

  1. Quaresma M, Coleman MP, Rachet B. 40-year trends in an index of survival for all cancers combined and survival adjusted for age and sex for each cancer in England and Wales, 1971-2011: a population-based study. Lancet 2014 pii: S0140-6736(14)61396-9.
  2. ISD Scotland. Trends in Cancer Survival 1983-2007.
  3. Northern Ireland Cancer Registry. Incidence & Survival 1993-2012.

About this data

Data is for: England and Wales, 2010-2011, ICD-10 C00-C97 Excl. C44

Last reviewed:

One-year age-standardised net survival for all cancers combined in England and Wales has increased from 45% during 1971-1972 to 67% during 2010-2011 in men – an absolute survival difference Open a glossary item of 22 percentage points.[1] In women, one-year survival has increased from 55% to 74% over the same time period (a difference of 19 percentage points). Overall these improvements are most likely to be due to earlier detection and diagnosis, though advances in treatment may also have played a role.

All Cancers Excluding Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (C00-C97 Excl. C44), Age-standardised One-Year Net Survival, England and Wales, 1971-2011

While survival at five years is still influenced by earlier diagnosis, it is also strongly dependent on the success of treatment. Five-year age-standardised net survival for all cancers combined in England and Wales has increased from 25% during 1971-1972 to a predicted survival of 49% during 2010-2011 in men - an absolute survival difference Open a glossary item of 24 percentage points.[1] In women, five-year survival has increased from 34% to 59% over the same time period (a difference of 25 percentage points).

All Cancers Excluding Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (C00-C97 Excl. C44), Age-standardised Five-Year Net Survival, England and Wales, 1971-2011

Five-year survival for 2010-2011 is predicted using an excess hazard statistical model

Ten-year survival has followed the same trend as one- and five-year survival since the early 1970s. Ten-year age-standardised net survival for all cancers combined in England and Wales has increased from 20% during 1971-1972 to a predicted survival of 46% during 2010-2011 in men, and from 28% to 54% over the same time period in women.[1] Overall, half of people diagnosed with cancer today are predicted to survive their disease for at least ten years.

All Cancers Excluding Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (C00-C97 Excl. C44), Age-standardised Ten-Year Net Survival, England and Wales, 1971-2011

Ten-year survival for 2005-2006 and 2010-2011 is predicted using an excess hazard statistical model

See also

Cancer incidence statistics for all cancers combined for the UK

Cancer mortality statistics for all cancers combined for the UK

References

  1. Quaresma M, Coleman MP, Rachet B. 40-year trends in an index of survival for all cancers combined and survival adjusted for age and sex for each cancer in England and Wales, 1971-2011: a population-based study. Lancet 2014 pii: S0140-6736(14)61396-9.

About this data

Data is for: England and Wales, 1971-2011, ICD-10 C00-C97 Excl. C44

Last reviewed:

Five-year relative survival for cancer in men in England (47%) is below the average for Europe (50%). Wales (47%), Scotland (43%) and Northern Ireland (48%) are also below the European average.[1] Across the European countries for which data is available, five-year relative survival in men ranges from 30% (Bulgaria) to 65% (Sweden).[1] 

Five-year relative survival for cancer in women in England (53%) is below the average for Europe (58%). Wales (52%), Scotland (50%) and Northern Ireland (54%) are also below the European average.[1] Across the European countries for which data is available, five-year relative survival in women ranges from 46% (Poland) to 64% (Belgium).[1]

All Cancers Excluding Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (C00-C97 Excl. C44), Age-Standardised Five-Year Relative Survival, Adults (Aged 15+), European Countries, 2000-2007

All invasive, primary, malignant neoplasms except non-melanoma skin cancer were eligible for inclusion. Data consists of both observed and predicted 5-year relative survival. Where sufficient follow-up was not available for recently diagnosed patients the period approach was used to predict 5-year cohort survival.

Possible explanations for persistent international differences in survival include differences in cancer biology, use of diagnostic tests and screening, stage at diagnosis, access to high-quality care, and data collection practices.[1]

See also

Cancer diagnosis and treatment

Cancer incidence for all cancers combined

References

  1. De Angelis R, Sant M, Coleman MP, et al. Cancer survival in Europe 1999-2007 by country and age: results of EUROCARE-5 - a population-based study. Lancet Oncol 2014;15:23-34

About this data

Data is for: European countries, patients diagnosed in 2000-2007 and followed up to 2008, all invasive, primary, malignant neoplasms except non-melanoma skin cancer (ICD-10 C00-C97 29, excl. C44) were eligible for inclusion. 

Last reviewed:

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