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Diagnoses of new malignant cancers in England decreased from 327,174 in 2019 to 288,753 in 2020, new cancer figures from NHS Digital show.
The Cancer Registration Statistics, England, 2020 publication provides information on cancers that were newly diagnosed in the 2020 calendar year in England. Breakdowns are available by geography, gender, age bands, deprivation and diagnosis stage.
In 2020, there were 288,753 new cancer diagnoses, which is 38,421 fewer than in 2019. The average number of new diagnoses each day fell from 896 in 2019 to 789 in 2020.
The four most common cancers registered (prostate, breast, bowel and lung) continued to account for over half of all diagnoses (51%) in 2020.
Rates of cancer diagnoses increased with age for both males and females
The report found that rates increased with age for both males and females. Females had higher incidence rates than males between the ages of 15 and 59 years, while males had higher incidence rates when aged 60 and above.
Prostate cancer continued to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer in males (24% of all male diagnoses). Breast cancer continued to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer in females (28% of all female diagnoses).
The fall in diagnoses registered between 2019 and 2020 is spread unevenly across different cancers. The biggest change in male cancer diagnoses was in prostate cancer, which fell by 11,463 (or 24%) between 2019 and 2020. In females, the largest change in the number of diagnoses was for breast cancer (a fall of 8,175 diagnoses or 17% in 2020 compared to 2019). The largest proportionate change among females was for melanoma, which showed a drop of 1,319 diagnoses or 18% decrease in 2020.
Mortality rates were highest for those living in the most deprived areas
Cancer incidence for both genders increased with deprivation. However, males in the least deprived areas had a higher rate of cancer incidence than females in the most deprived areas (554 per 100,000 for males and 550 per 100,000 for females).
For males, the rate decreased from 307 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019 to 303 in 2020. Similarly, for females, the rate decreased from 216 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019 to 214 in 2020.
For the first time, the publication also included cancer mortality broken down by deprivation. Mortality rates were highest for both males and females living in the most deprived areas. Male and female mortality rates in the 20% most deprived areas of England are at least 53% higher than for those in the 20% least deprived areas.