Cancer still claims more lives in Britain than any other disease. But the odds of dying from it are far lower than they were a generation ago.

The rate of people dying from cancer in the United Kingdom has fallen by almost one third since the late 1980s, according to a new analysis from Cancer Research UK.

Today, about 247 people out of every 100,000 die from cancer each year. That marks a 29% drop from the peak in 1989, when the death rate reached about 355 per 100,000.

Researchers say the decline reflects decades of progress in prevention, screening and treatment.

“These figures represent decades of crucial scientific breakthroughs,” said Dr Sam Godfrey, science engagement lead at Cancer Research UK. “From vaccines that prevent cancer to kinder, more targeted treatments. Because of this, thousands more people today can make memories, reach milestones and spend precious time with their loved ones.”

The downward trend has continued in recent years. Over the past decade alone, the overall cancer death rate has fallen by 11%.

Some cancers have seen particularly sharp improvements.

Deaths from ovarian cancer dropped by 19% between the periods 2012–2014 and 2022–2024. Stomach cancer deaths fell by 34%, while lung cancer deaths declined by 22%.

Other major cancers also showed progress. Death rates for bowel cancer decreased by 6%, breast cancer by 14%, cervical cancer by 11% and leukaemia by 9%. Oesophageal cancer deaths dropped by 12%.

Despite the overall progress, some cancer death rates have risen in the past decade. These include kidney cancer, which increased by 5%, liver cancer by 14%, eye cancer by 26% and gallbladder cancer by 29%. Rates for thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer and melanoma have remained relatively stable.

Cancer still causes about one in four deaths in Britain, making it the country’s biggest killer. Survival rates also trail behind several European countries, including Romania and Poland.

But health experts say public health policies and medical advances have played a major role in reducing mortality.

Smoking bans, early detection programmes and improved treatments have all contributed to the long-term drop in deaths.

Screening programmes in particular have made a difference. The NHS cervical screening programme has helped drive a dramatic decline in cervical cancer deaths, which have fallen by about 75% since the 1970s.

Vaccination has also played a role.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, introduced in the UK in 2008 and offered to schoolchildren, is helping prevent cervical cancers before they develop. About 6.5 million people have received the vaccine since it was introduced.

Advances in treatment have also improved outcomes. In prostate cancer, for example, death rates have fallen by 11% over the past decade. One contributing factor is the drug abiraterone, developed by scientists funded by Cancer Research UK, which blocks testosterone from fueling prostate tumors.

Godfrey said Britain remains a global leader in cancer research, but continued progress will depend on sustained investment and support for clinical trials.

“It’s essential that the government makes it easier and faster to set up clinical trials, as well as providing NHS staff with the time and space to carry out life-saving research,” he said.

Even as the risk of dying from cancer falls, the number of diagnoses is rising.

Because the UK population is growing and ageing, more people are developing the disease. On average, one person in Britain is diagnosed with cancer every 75 seconds.

That means the total number of deaths from cancer continues to increase even as individual survival rates improve.

The pressure on health services remains significant. Last year, an analysis found that three quarters of NHS hospital trusts were failing to meet key cancer care targets.

In response, the government recently pledged £2 billion to improve cancer services. Officials say the funding will help deliver faster diagnoses, quicker treatment and better support for patients.

Under the national cancer plan, ministers say all three NHS waiting-time targets for cancer care should be met by 2029.

For researchers, the long-term trend still tells a hopeful story.

Decades of prevention efforts, vaccines, early detection and more precise treatments are steadily shifting the odds for millions of people facing cancer.