Age plays a significant role in shaping cancer outcomes – from cancer risk and screening to treatment access, survival and mortality. Our 2026 report Cancer in the UK: Age aims to support a more nuanced understanding of how cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes vary by age. This will help inform future service planning, research and policy development, in order to improve cancer outcomes for people of all ages.
More than half (53%) of all new cancer diagnoses are in people age 70 and over. Almost 4 in 10 (38%) are in people aged 50 to 69. Since the early 1990s, cancer incidence rates in the UK have risen across all age groups. The largest increases have been in people aged 25 to 39, while the smallest increases have been in people aged 80 and over.
The likelihood of a person surviving their cancer is lower in older adults across all common cancer sites. Improvements in 10-year cancer survival since the early 1970s have been greatest among younger adults, while those aged 75 and over have experienced the slowest progress over time.
Cancer mortality rates increase with age and are highest for people aged 90 and over. Despite cancer mortality rates falling since the 1990s, the number of cancer deaths each year as increased. Around 7 in 10 (71%) of all cancer deaths are in people aged 70 and over, with a further 25% in people aged 50 to 69.
Smoking prevalence has decreased across all age groups. Current smoking rates are lowest among older adults (aged 65 and older), but rates of ex-smoking are highest in this age group.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity increases with age, peaking around middle age before declining slightly in the oldest age group. This pattern reflects factors including metabolism changes with age, lifetime accumulation of excess bodyweight and ill-health in older age causing weight loss.
Screening participation generally increases with age, though patterns vary by programme. Cervical screening coverage peaks in people age 50 to 54 while bowel screening uptake peaks in those aged 70 to 74. Breast screening uptake shows little variation by age.
The proportion of cancers diagnosed at an early stage (stage 1 or 2) varies by cancer site and by age group. Some cancers, such as ovarian cancer, see lower proportions of older adults diagnosed early. But others, such as bladder, bowel and lung, show lower proportions of younger adults diagnosed early.
Treatment delays are increasing across all age groups. The 60 to 69 age group consistently has the highest percentage of long-waiters (those who wait over 104 days to start treatment after an urgent referral); the 19 to 49 age group has the lowest. Differences in the cancer types diagnosed will contribute to differences by age, as some cancer types are harder to diagnose and treat. However, the gap between age groups has widened over time.
People with cancer may be offered, and receive, different treatment options at different ages depending on factors such as cancer site, stage at diagnosis, fitness, comorbidities and patient choice. The proportion of patients receiving surgery, systemic anti-cancer therapy or radiotherapy as part of their initial treatment decreases with each decade of age.
As the UK population is ageing, the number of people diagnosed with cancer is expected to rise. Health services across the UK will need to respond to this, ensuring that cancer care evolves to support more older patients who will have more complex care and support needs.
While a large majority of people with cancer are older adults, we cannot ignore the impact of cancer on children and young people, and their families. Research into children’s and young people’s cancers and the development of less toxic, more effective treatments is critical to improving outcomes.
Much of the variation identified in this report is not a sign of inequalities on its own. The differences for older people are, in part, due to the complexities that come with ageing. But some disparities may point to systemic issues that require further investigation and action.
National cancer strategies in Scotland, Northern Ireland and England, and cancer policy in Wales, all recognise the distinct needs of people with cancer of different ages – from dedicated investment for children and young people, to tailoring services for older people with cancer. It’s now important that governments and health systems across the UK keep up momentum on evidence-based actions that will improve outcomes for people affected by cancer, no matter who they are.
Read the report in fullProduced by the Health Policy & Evidence Department, Cancer Research UK, July 2026.
If you have any comments, questions or feedback, please reach out to our team.
