Cancer survival statistics by cancer site

This page presents cancer survival rates for common cancers affecting males and females. More detailed cancer survival statistics can be found by downloading Tables 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 below.

Cancer survival rates for males

Of the 15 most commonly diagnosed cancers in men, testicular cancer has the highest five-year relative survival at 96% and pancreatic cancer has the lowest at 2%. In recent years there have been big increases in the five-year survival rates for prostate cancer.

These improvements largely reflect an increasing number of men being diagnosed with very early stage prostate cancer as a result of widespread use of PSA testing (Prostate Specific Antigen). Most men diagnosed at a very early stage will die with prostate cancer but not from it, therefore the survival rate has increased.

Cancer survival rates for females

In women, breast cancer, malignant melanoma and cancer of the uterus all have five-year relative survival of over 70%. Of the 15 most commonly diagnosed cancers in women, oesophageal, lung and pancreatic cancer have survival rates of less than 10%.

Survival rates are presented for patients diagnosed from 1971 to 1999, a period that has been divided into six time periods: 1971-1975, 1976-1980, 1981-1985, 1986-1990, 1991-1995 and 1996-1999. Tables 3.1-3.3 show the one-, five- and ten-year relative survival rates for the six time periods and period survival estimates for patients based on the survival experience of patients in 2000-2001 and can be downloaded using the link below.

To view the full tables, please refer to the link below the image.

table showing one year cancer survival rates