How we Die: Cancer. Which cancers kill the most?

Which cancers kill the most?

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in developed countries; the first being heart disease. In 2007, cancer accounted for 24% of deaths in England: 110,400 deaths out of the total 470,700. 

Cancer is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade other tissues and organs in our body. Cancer is the general name given to a group of diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they start – for example, cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer; cancer that begins in melanocytes of the skin is called melanoma. 

In this infographic we highlight the cancers that kill the most number of people.

Further reading:

• Cancer Research UK – Cancer in General
• American Cancer Society – Cancer Basics
• National Health Service (NHS) – Cancer Introduction