Young people's cancers mortality statistics

Deaths

Deaths from cancer in young people,  2017 - 2019, UK.

Proportion of all deaths

Percentage young people contributes to total cancer deaths, 2017-2019, UK.

Trend over time

Change in young people's cancers mortality rates since the early 1970's, UK.

Proportion of deaths in young people

Cancer causes a tenth of all deaths in young people, 2021, UK

Cancer in young people accounts for less than 1% of all cancer deaths in the UK (2017-2019).[1-4]

42% of cancer deaths in young people in the UK are in females, and 58% are in males (2017-2019).

Mortality rates for cancer in young people (European age-standardised Open a glossary item (AS) rates) in the UK are not significantly different between females and males (2017-2019).

Mortality rates for cancer in young people (European age-standardised Open a glossary item (AS) rates) for persons are similar to the UK average in all the UK constituent countries.

For cancer in young people, mortality and incidence rates do not vary between the UK constituent nations.

All Young People’s Cancers (C00-C97, D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43, D44.3-D44.5), Annual Average Number of Deaths, Crude and European Age-Standardised (AS) Mortality Rates per 100,000 Persons Population, Age 15-24, UK, 2017-2019

  England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland UK
Female Deaths 88 8 5 3 105
Crude Rate 2.7 2.7 2.8 3.0 2.7
AS Rate 2.7 2.7 2.8 3.0 2.7
AS Rate - 95% LCL 2.4 1.6 1.4 1.1 2.4
AS Rate - 95% UCL 3.1 3.8 4.1 4.9 3.0
Male Deaths 125 10 6 2 143
Crude Rate 3.7 3.0 3.0 2.0 3.5
AS Rate 3.7 3.0 3.0 2.0 3.5
AS Rate - 95% LCL 3.3 1.9 1.6 0.5 3.2
AS Rate - 95% UCL 4.0 4.1 4.4 3.5 3.9
Persons Deaths 213 18 11 6 248
Crude Rate 3.2 2.8 2.9 2.5 3.2
AS Rate 3.2 2.8 2.9 2.5 3.1
AS Rate - 95% LCL 3.0 2.1 1.9 1.3 2.9
AS Rate - 95% UCL 3.5 3.6 3.9 3.7 3.4
95% LCL and 95% UCL are the 95% lower and upper confidence limits around the AS Rate Open a glossary item

See also

Young people's cancers incidence statistics by sex and UK region

Young people's cancers survival statistics

Cancer mortality statistics for all ages

References

  1. England and Wales data were accessed from Nomis mortality statistics by underlying cause, sex and age, November 2021: Nomis mortality statistics by underlying cause, sex and age.
  2. Scotland data were provided by ISD Scotland on request, November 2021. Similar data can be found here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications/index.asp(link is external).
  3. Northern Ireland data were provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry on request, February 2022. Similar data can be found here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/.
  4. Population data were published by the Office for National statistics, accessed July 2020. The data can be found here: Population estimates for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, provisional: mid-2019.

About this data

Data is for UK, 2017-2019, Age 15-24, C00-C97, D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43, D44.3-D44.5.

All young people's cancers includes all malignant tumours (ICD-10 codes: C00-C97), and all non-malignant brain, other central nervous system and intracranial tumours (ICD-10 codes: D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43 and D44.3-D44.5).

Last reviewed:

The highest mortality rates for all young people's cancers combined are in the 20-24 age group, with around 6 in 10 (59%) of all cases in young people being diagnosed in this age group (UK, 2017-2019).[1-4] This pattern varies greatly by cancer type.[5]

Young persons’ cancer usually has no known cause. For most cancer types incidence increases with age, which largely reflects cell DNA damage accumulating over time. Damage can result from biological processes or from exposure to risk factors.

See also

Cancer mortality by age statistics for adult's cancers

Cancer mortality by age statistics for young people's cancers

References

  1. England and Wales data were accessed from Nomis mortality statistics by underlying cause, sex and age, November 2021: Nomis mortality statistics by underlying cause, sex and age.
  2. Scotland data were provided by ISD Scotland on request, November 2021. Similar data can be found here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications/index.asp(link is external).
  3. Northern Ireland data were provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry on request, February 2022. Similar data can be found here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/.
  4. Population data were published by the Office for National statistics, accessed July 2020. The data can be found here: Population estimates for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, provisional: mid-2019.
  5. 13-24 year olds with cancer in England, incidence, mortality and survival

About this data

Data is for UK, 2017-2019, Age 15-24, ICD-10 C00-C97, D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43, D44.3-D44.5.

Last reviewed:

European age-standardised Open a glossary item(European age-standardised (AS) mortality rates for cancers in young people (females and males combined) decreased by 61% in the UK between 1971-1973 and 2017-2019.[1-4] The decrease was of a similar size in females and males.

For cancers in female young people, AS mortality rates in the UK decreased by 59% between 1971-1973 and 2017-2019. For cancers in male young people, AS mortality rates in the UK decreased by 63% between 1971-1973 and 2017-2019.

Over the last decade in the UK (between 2007-2009 and 2017-2019), AS mortality rates for cancers in young people (females and males combined) decreased by 24%. In females AS mortality rates remained stable, and in males rates decreased by 28%.

Young Peoples' Cancers (C00-C97, D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43, D44.3-D44.5), European Age-Standardised Mortality Rates per 100,000 Persons Population, UK, Age15-24, 1971-2019

For most cancer types, mortality trends largely reflect incidence and survival trends. For example, rising mortality may reflect rising incidence and stable survival, while falling mortality may reflect rising incidence and rising survival.

References

  1. England and Wales data were accessed from Nomis mortality statistics by underlying cause, sex and age, November 2021: Nomis mortality statistics by underlying cause, sex and age.
  2. Scotland data were provided by ISD Scotland on request, November 2021. Similar data can be found here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications/index.asp(link is external).
  3. Northern Ireland data were provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry on request, February 2022. Similar data can be found here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/.
  4. Population data were published by the Office for National statistics, accessed July 2020. The data can be found here: Population estimates for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, provisional: mid-2019.

About this data

Data is for UK, 1971-2019, Age 15-24, C00-C97, D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43, D44.3-D44.5.

All young people's cancers includes all malignant tumours (ICD-10 codes: C00-C97), and all non-malignant brain, other central nervous system and intracranial tumours (ICD-10 codes: D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43 and D44.3-D44.5).

Last reviewed:

The most common cause of cancer death in young people is leukaemia followed by brain, other CNS and intracranial tumours.[1-3]

Routinely-collected mortality data are presented by ICD-10 code. However, this coding framework is generally not appropriate for cancer in young people because it defines tumours using body site rather than cell type, and the latter is more important for cancer in young people. ICD-10 coding is considered reliable for malignant brain and other CNS tumours and leukaemias, in young people.[4]

Young People’s Cancers by Cancer Type, Average Number of Deaths per Year, Age 15-24, UK, 2016-218

See also

Cancer mortality statistics for all ages

References

  1. Data were provided by the Office for National Statistics on request, November 2019. Similar data can be found here: http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths.
  2. Data were provided by ISD Scotland on request, October 2019. Similar data can be found here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications/index.asp.
  3. Data were provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry on request, June 2020. Similar data can be found here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/.

About this data

Data is for UK, 2016-2018, Age 15-24, Leukaemia ICD-10 C91-C95; Brain ICD-10 C70-C72; Other cancers ICD-10 C00-C69, C73-C90, C96-C97, D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43, D44.3-D44.5; All cancers combined C00-C97, D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43, D44.3-D44.5.

Last reviewed:

Around 27,100 deaths occurred from cancer (excluding benign, uncertain and unknown behaviour brain, other CNS and intracranial tumours) in young people (aged 15-39) in Europe in 2012.[1]

Around 390,000 deaths occurred from cancer (excluding benign, uncertain and unknown behaviour brain, other CNS and intracranial tumours) in young people (aged 15-39) worldwide in 2012.[1]

See also

Find out more about the counting and coding of this data

Cancer mortality statistics for all ages

Worldwide mortality statistics

References

  1. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Globocan 2012: Estimated Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide in 2012. Accessed June 2014.

About this data

Data is for: Europe, 2012. See source for ICD codes and other data specifics.

Last reviewed:

The most common causes of cancer death in young people are brain, other CNS and intracranial tumours followed by leukaemia.[1-3]

Routinely-collected mortality data are presented by ICD-10 code. However, this coding framework is generally not appropriate for cancer in young people because it defines tumours using body site rather than cell type, and the latter is more important for cancer in young people. ICD-10 coding is considered reliable for malignant brain and other CNS tumours and leukaemias, in young people.[4]

Young People's Cancers by Cancer Type, Average Number of Deaths per Year, Age 15-24, UK, 2014-2016

Young People's Cancers by Cancer Type Pie Chart, Average Number of Deaths per Year, Age 15-24, UK, 2014-2016

See also

Cancer mortality statistics for all ages

References

  1. Data were provided by the Office for National Statistics on request, October 2017. Similar data can be found here: http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths.
  2. Data were provided by ISD Scotland on request, October 2017. Similar data can be found here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications/index.asp. 
  3. Data were provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry on request, December 2017. Similar data can be found here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/.
  4. Childhood Cancer Mortality in the UK and Internationally, 2005-2010: www.ncin.org.uk/view?rid=3027

About this data

Data is for UK, 2014-2016, Brain ICD-10 C70-C72; Leakaemia ICD-10 C90-C95; Other cancers ICD-10 C00-C69, C73-C90, C96-C97, D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43, D44.3-D44.5; All cancers combined C00-C97, D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43, D44.3-D44.5.

Last reviewed:

Cancer (excluding benign, uncertain and unknown behaviour brain, other CNS and intracranial tumours) is the second most common cause of death for males and females aged 15-24. Cancer accounted for 10% of all deaths in this age group in 2020).[1-3]

See also

Find out more about the counting and coding of this data

Cancer mortality statistics by age

Cancer incidence by age statistics

Cancer survival by age statistics

 

References

  1. 1. England and Wales data were from the Office for National Statistics, accessed February 2022: Nomis mortality statistics by underlying cause, sex and age(link is external).
  2. 2. Scotland data were from the National Records of Scotland, accessed February 2022: Vital Events Reference Tables (link is external).
  3. 3. Northern Ireland data were from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, accessed February 2022: Registrar General Annual Report 2020 Cause of Death (link is external)
Last reviewed:

An estimated 11,800 young people’s cancer deaths had been avoided in the UK by 2018 because mortality rates have fallen since the 1970s.[1]

Young People's Cancers (C00-C97, D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43, D44.3-D44.5), Observed Deaths, and Expected Deaths if Mortality Rates Had Not Fallen from Peak, Ages 15-24, UK, 1971-2018

See also

Cancer incidence statistics for young people's cancers in the UK

Cancer survival statistics for young people's cancers in the UK

Last reviewed:

Citation

You are welcome to reuse this Cancer Research UK content for your own work.
Credit us as authors by referencing Cancer Research UK as the primary source. Suggested styles are:

Web content: Cancer Research UK, full URL of the page, Accessed [month] [year].
Publications: Cancer Research UK ([year of publication]), Name of publication, Cancer Research UK.
Graphics (when reused unaltered): Credit: Cancer Research UK.
Graphics (when recreated with differences): Based on a graphic created by Cancer Research UK.

When Cancer Research UK material is used for commercial reasons, we encourage a donation to our life-saving research.
Send a cheque payable to Cancer Research UK to: Cancer Research UK, 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ or

Donate online