Ten-year survival
Around one in two people diagnosed with cancer in the UK now survive for at least ten years. In the early 1970s, it was around one in four.
Source: Cancer Research UK, 50 years of UK cancer data (3 June 2025).
Cancer progress
A brighter future, together.
More birthdays, more shared moments, more ordinary days with the people we love. This is why cancer research matters to us. We want to help it move forward, with care for those facing cancer today and everyone missing someone they love.
These figures come from Cancer Research UK and describe progress across the UK. They reflect the wider work of cancer research and care.
Lower death rate
Between 1973 and 2023, the UK cancer death rate fell by around 22% (more than a fifth).
Source: Cancer Research UK, 50 years of UK cancer data (3 June 2025).
The need remains
More than 403,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK each year.
Source: Cancer Research UK, Cancer in the UK 2026 (23 April 2026).
A note on what these figures mean
Understanding the figures.
These figures describe groups of people over time. They cannot tell us what will happen to any one person, and they do not capture everything that living with cancer means.
Sources