Cancer of unknown primary is the 6th most common cause of cancer death in the UK, with around 9,900 deaths every year. Mortality rates are higher in males, making it the 6th most common cause of cancer death in this demographic.
View more detailed gender stats on our dashboard for Cancer of Unknown Primary
Mortality rates for cancer of unknown primary in the UK are highest in people aged 90+, with around 11.8% of all cancer of unknown primary deaths occurring in this age group (2021-2023).
View more detailed age stats on our dashboard for Cancer of Unknown Primary
Cancer of unknown primary mortality rates have increased by seven-tenths (70%) in the UK since the early 1970s, and rates have decreased by around a fifth (21%) in the last decade (2021-2023).
View more detailed trends stats on our dashboard for Cancer of Unknown Primary
Cancer of unknown primary mortality rates in the UK are projected to decrease by 11% between 2024-2026 and 2038-2040, with around 10,000 deaths each year by 2038-2040.
View more detailed projections stats on our dashboard for Cancer of Unknown Primary
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Cancer Research UK and National Cancer Intelligence Network. Cancer by deprivation in England: Incidence, 1996-2010, Mortality, 1997-2011. London: NCIN; 2014.
Calculated by the Cancer Intelligence Team at Cancer Research UK, April 2020. Based on method reported in National Cancer Intelligence Network Cancer by Deprivation in England Incidence, 1996-2010 Mortality, 1997-2011. Using cancer incidence data 2013-2017 (Public Health England) and population data 2013-2017 (Office for National Statistics) by Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2015 income domain quintile, cancer type, sex, and five-year age band.
