How common is cancer?

How common is cancer?
During our lifetimes, one in every three of us will be diagnosed with cancer, but cancer is rare in children and young people. Two-thirds of people diagnosed with cancer are aged over 65 years.

The most common cancers are breast cancer, lung cancer, bowel cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, stomach cancer, melanoma, oesophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukaemia and ovarian cancer. We also support people with rarer cancers. Find out more in Cancer types.

Early diagnosis makes it more likely that cancer can be treated, so it is important to be aware of possible symptoms. Many people are cured of cancer. If a cure is not possible, people with cancer can live for a long time if they have effective treatment.