Figure shows the increase in ten-year survival rates from the 1970s to the present for the most common cancers. These rates were calculated as part of the review of the Cancer Research UK 2020 Goals in April 20102.
This analysis shows that whilst there has been improvement in survival for most cancers, for lung and pancreatic cancer there has been very little change and survival rates remain low. The highest survival rates are for testicular cancer, malignant melanoma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Cancer survival statistics are typically expressed as the proportion of patients alive at some point subsequent to the diagnosis of their cancer. Relative survival is an estimate of the percentage of patients who would be expected to survive the effects of their cancer. Observed survival is the actual percentage of patients still alive at some specified time after diagnosis of cancer. It considers deaths from all causes, cancer or otherwise. Overview of Population-based Cancer Survival Statistics describes the methodologies involved in calculating cancer survival statistics.
Ten year relative survival (%), adults (15-99 years), selected cancers, England and Wales: survival trends for selected cancers 1971-20074
1971-72 (1)
1980-81 (1)
1990-91 (1)
2007 (2)
Bladder
34.6
52.2
50.3
48.9
Bowel
Colon
22.6
33.3
38.3
50.4
Rectum(3)
23.9
29.9
33.4
49.3
Brain
5.7
7.4
8.7
9.4
Breast (females)
38.9
49.3
61.1
77.0
Cervix
48.4
52.6
59.5
63.0
Hodgkin's lymphoma
49.0
57.8
68.7
77.9
Kidney
22.2
27.1
31.7
43.5
Larynx (males)
50.5
56.9
55.1
59.6
Leukaemia
8.1
13.8
23.5
33.2
Lung
3.2
3.9
3.7
5.3
Melanoma
49.3
57.5
69.5
83.2
Myeloma
5.3
8.8
9.3
17.1
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (3)
21.8
29.7
35.0
50.8
Oesophagus
3.6
4.5
4.6
10.0
Ovary
18.0
21.9
25.3
35.4
Pancreas
1.9
2.1
1.7
2.8
Prostate
20.4
30.1
30.9
68.5
Stomach
4.6
7.2
8.5
13.5
Testis
67.4
84.7
91.7
96.5
Uterus
55.2
62.9
64.4
74.5
Other cancers
34.0
31.4
30.1
36.3
All cancers
23.7
30.0
33.7
45.2
(1) 1971-1991 Cohort analysis - actual survival
(2) 2007 Hybrid analysis - predicted survival
(3) These cancers are not included in the graph for visual clarity
(4) Source: Coleman. M. P et al, Research commissioned by Cancer Research UK, 2010
survival rates for the most common cancers.xls