Cancer Publications and Reports

National analyses | Cancer type specific analyses

NCIN prepares national, sub-national and cancer type specific analyses in collaboration with partner organisations.

We also prepare data briefings (short documents highlighting one issue and written for a wider general audience), cancer information tools targeted at particular audiences and guidance documents to support health service and other users in understanding and using the available information.

A range of other data on cancer in the UK are available from other organisations.

National analyses

Recurrent and Metastatic Breast Cancer Data Collection Project Pilot report (March 2012)

This report describes the rationale, findings and recommendations of a pilot project undertaken on collection of data on recurrent and metastatic breast cancer. It is estimated that around 550,000 people are alive in the UK after a diagnosis of breast cancer, but it is unknown how many of them have recurrent or metastatic disease. The lack of information on recurrence and metastasis of breast cancer means that the effectiveness of treatments for primary cancers cannot be adequately assessed and the care of patients with recurrent and metastatic cancer cannot be fully evaluated. This makes it difficult to plan and resource services for this group of patients.


Improving outcomes: a strategy for cancer - NCIN information supplement (June 2011)

This supplement summarises some of the information and evidence that has been used to inform the development of the Improving Outcomes: A strategy for cancer and highlights the extent to which variations in the quality of cancer services and outcomes continue to vary.


What cancer statistics are available, and where can I find them? (June 2011)

This document aims to provide an overview about cancer statistics, including information on the latest statistics publicly available and where to find them. This is intended to be a useful reference guide for infrequent users of cancer statistics or for audiences that may not be familiar with this information.


NHS treated cancer patients receiving major surgical resections (March 2011)

England | 2004-2006 | Percentage by age, sex and cancer network

This initial report on major surgical resections in England presents the percentage of NHS treated cancer patients who received a major resection as part of their treatment. The report contains results for thirteen cancer sites and covers patients diagnosed during 2004-2006 who were followed up to 2007. Percentages are presented by sex, age, deprivation quintile and cancer network, with funnel plots depicting both percentages and indirectly age-standardised ratios by cancer network. Cancer networks have been assigned by the residence of patients at time of diagnosis. These data provide a basis to instigate further exploration of major surgical resections for cancer patients and to encourage improved recording and sharing of data to allow further analyses to be produced.

An Excel spreadsheet of the OPCS4 codes used within this report is available.

A post on the Cancer Research UK Science Update Blog also discusses this work.


Cancer survival by primary care trust (December 2011)

England by PCT | 1996-2009 and followed up to 2010 | All cancers survival index

This bulletin presents updated estimates of a cancer survival index at one year after diagnosis for all cancers combined in each of 151 Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England, for patients diagnosed during 1996-2009 and followed up to 31 December 2010. The survival index is adjusted for differences in the profile of cancer patients by age, sex and type of cancer between PCTs.

Cancer survival by Primary Care Trust: charts, tables and maps


Cancer survival by cancer network (December 2011)

England by cancer network | 1996-2009 and followed up to 2010 | One and five year relative survival

This report presents one-year and five-year age-standardised net survival estimates (see background note 3) for the 28 Cancer Networks of England, for patients who were diagnosed with a cancer of the oesophagus, stomach, colon, lung, breast (women) or cervix during 1996–2009 and followed up to 31 December 2010. One-year survival estimates are reported for patients diagnosed in 1996, 2001, 2005 and 2009, and five-year survival for those diagnosed in 1996, 2001 and 2005.

Charts, tables and maps to accompany the release are also available from ONS.


One, Five and Ten-year Cancer Prevalence (June 2010)

UK by cancer network | 2006 | Crude and age standardised proportions

Cancer prevalence results for all cancers combined and for 22 common cancers. These UK figures are broken down by cancer network for England and Scotland with national estimates for Wales and Northern Ireland. These data show the variation in the number of males and females who are still alive up to one, five and ten years after a cancer diagnosis. Report prepared for Macmillan Cancer Support by Thames Cancer Registry.

You can also access the cancer prevalence information using our Prevalence e-Atlas. This is an interactive tool which uses maps, charts and data tables to display cancer prevalence data by cancer network for the UK.

In addition, one-year and five-year cancer prevalence estimates by PCT were previously calculated by Thames Cancer Registry. These estimates are available for all malignant neoplasms, breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers as of 31st December 2004. These data are available from the APHO website.


Cancer Incidence and Survival By Major Ethnic Group (June 2009)

England | 2002-2006 | Incidence rate ratios and estimated ASRs

The first national analysis for twenty-one different cancer sites or groups, presenting cancer incidence by ethnic group in England. This report also includes data on cancer survival by ethnic group for the four largest cancer sites. Joint report with Cancer Research UK in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.


The Excess Burden of Cancer in Men in the UK (June 2009 - Updated August 2010)

UK | 2006 (incidence) 2007 (mortality) | Incidence and mortality rate ratios

This publication presents analyses of the increased cancer incidence and mortality rates in males compared to females. Joint report with Cancer Research UK, The Centre for Men's Health at Leeds Metropolitan University and the Men's Health Forum.


Cancer Incidence by Deprivation (December 2008)

England | 1995-2004 | Excess cases and changes in ASR between deprivation quintiles

This report analyses twenty-four different cancer sites or groups and presents results showing the change in incidence rates between socio-economic quintiles, as well as estimating the excess cases caused by deprivation.


Cancer Incidence and Mortality (October 2008)

UK by cancer network | 2005 | Crude rates and ASRs

NCIN's first UK wide report showing differences in age-standardised incidence and mortality rates for twenty-two cancer sites or groups.

For more up to date information on cancer incidence and mortality, see the Cancer e-Atlas.


One Year Cancer Survival (October 2008)

England by cancer network | 1985-2004 | England trends over time and cancer network funnel plots

Trends over time and funnel plots showing variations between cancer networks in one year relative survival rates for twenty two cancer sites or groups. Report prepared in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

For more up to date information on one year cancer survival, see the cancer survival by cancer network report.


Cancer Prevalence (July 2008)

UK | 2008 | Lifetime prevalence for all cancers and colorectal, lung, breast and prostate cancers

Presentation giving estimates for cancer prevalence in England and the UK. Analysis conducted for Macmillan Cancer Support by Thames Cancer Registry.

For more detailed information on cancer prevalence, see Maddams, J. et al. Cancer prevalence in the United Kingdom: estimates for 2008. (2009), British Journal of Cancer. 101: 541–547. doi: doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6605148.


Cancer Type Specific Reports

Second All Breast Cancer Report (June 2011)

UK | 2007 | Incidence, treatment and survival for screen-detected and symptomatic breast cancers with analysis by age, deprivation and route of presentation

A UK analysis of all symptomatic and screen-detected breast cancers diagnosed in 2007. Report prepared by West Midlands Cancer Intelligece Unit on behalf of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes.


Profile of Cervical Cancer in England (January 2011)

England | 1998-2008 | Incidence, mortality and survival

This national profile report was produced by Trent Cancer Registry, the National Cancer Intelligence Network’s lead registry in England for gynaecological cancers, in collaboration with the NHS Cervical Cancer Screening Programme.

An e-atlas of cervical screening and cancer is also available.


Profile of Head and Neck Cancers in England (May 2010)

England | 2002-2006 | Incidence, mortality and survival

England wide report covering time trends and variations in incidence, mortality and survival for the main categories of head and neck cancers. Report prepared by Oxford Cancer Intelligence Unit.


Evidence to March 2010 on Cancer Inequalities in England

England | 2010 | Cancer inequalities

This report was originally published in March 2010 as an annex to the National Cancer Equalities Initiative (NCEI) report Reducing cancer inequality:evidence, progress and making it happen. It is republished here as a summary of the National Cancer Intelligence Network's work on cancer inequalities, supplemented where appropriate with references to other published work and the NCEI's visioning events.


All Breast Cancer Report (October 2009)

UK | 2006 | Incidence, treatment and survival for screen-detected and symptomatic breast cancers with analysis by deprivation and ethnicity.

A UK analysis of all symptomatic and screen-detected breast cancers diagnosed in 2006. Report prepared by West Midlands Cancer Intelligence Unit on behalf of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes.

For more up to date information on breast cancer, see the Second All Breast Cancer Report.