The UK’s most common cancers, as prostate cases soar by 25%

Prostate cancer has become England’s most common cancer, with diagnoses of the disease overtaking breast cancer in 2022 and 2023.

Figures from Prostate Cancer UK also suggests there has been a 25% increase in prostate cancer cases between 2019 and 2023.

The charity believes this could be down to heightened awareness of the disease, leading to more men getting an early diagnosis.

Analysis of NHS data by Prostate Cancer UK found 50,751 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in England in 2022 compared with 48,531 diagnoses of breast cancer.

The figures increased again in 2023, with 55,033 people receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis compared with 47,526 breast cancer cases.

Commenting on the figures Chiara De Biase, director of health services, equity and improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: "Unlike other cancers, prostate cancer won’t give you symptoms in its crucial early stages when it’s easier to treat, so as a charity we can’t tell you about tell-tale signs to look out for.

"That’s why we do everything we can to make every man aware of his risk of getting the disease and empower him to think about his testing options — so that he has the best chance of getting that all-important earlier diagnosis. Because the earlier you find prostate cancer, the easier it is to treat.”

The Prostate Cancer UK figures come after separate analysis by Macmillan suggest 3.4 million people will be living with cancer in the UK by December 2025.

This includes around 890,000 women with breast cancer, 610,000 men with prostate cancer, 390,000 people with bowel cancer and 120,000 with lung cancer.

The UK's most common cancers

One in two people will develop some type of cancer during their lifetime. While this can feel scary, it also gives an incentive to pay more attention to possible symptoms of the disease, to help catch anything early, and hopefully have a better outcome.

Of course, there are hundreds of different types of cancer, making it hard to be aware of each one, but having a basic understanding of the four most common types in the UK – prostate, breast, lung and bowel cancer – is a good place to start.

So, let's find out a little more about the UK's four most common cancer types, and the signs and symptoms to be aware of, as guided by the NHS.

1. Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is often very slow to develop, so people may live with it for a few years without noticing any symptoms at all.

According to the NHS, prostate cancer symptoms can include:

• needing to pee more frequently, often during the night

• needing to rush to the toilet

• difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)

• straining or taking a long time while peeing

• weak flow

• feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully

• blood in urine or blood in semen

For some men the first symptoms of prostate cancer occur when it has spread beyond the prostate gland to the bones and these can include back pain, loss of appetite, pain in the testicles and unexplained weight loss.

Whatever pain, discomfort or symptoms you feel, it is always best to discuss these with your GP.

2. Breast cancer

Until recently breast cancer was the most common type of cancer in the UK, accounting for three in 20 (15%) of all cases in females and males combined.

The best way to discover any symptoms is to check them regularly for changes and look out for a lump or area of thickened breast tissue. While lumps are likely not cancerous, if found, it's important to have them examined professionally.

Other than lumps, symptoms to look out for include:

• a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts

• discharge from either of your nipples (which may contain blood)

• a lump or swelling in either of your armpits, dimples

• a rash around the nipple, and a change in the nipple's appearance

3. Lung cancer

Another common type is lung cancer, which is also one of the most serious. There are around 49,200 new lung cancer cases in the UK every year, that's more than 130 every day.

In terms of spotting symptoms early, it can be more tricky with this type of cancer as they usually don't show in early stages.

However, many people with lung cancer will eventually develop symptoms that might include:

• a persistent cough

• coughing up blood

• persistent breathlessness

• unexplained tiredness and weight loss

• an ache or pain when coughing.

4. Bowel cancer

Bowel cancer is the overall term given to cancer that begins in the large bowel – depending on where it starts, it is sometimes called colon or rectal cancer.

Almost 44,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK. According to Bowel Cancer UK more than nine out of ten new cases (94%) are diagnosed in people over the age of 50. But bowel cancer can affect anyone of any age. More than 2,600 new cases are diagnosed in people under the age of 50 every year.

Contributing factors to the disease including age, diet, weight, exercise, alcohol, smoking, and family history.

The main symptoms are:

• persistent blood in poo (that doesn't occur for any obvious reason)

• a persistent change in your bowel habit (e.g. needing to poo more, or it changing in consistency)

• persistent lower tummy pain, bloating or discomfort (caused by eating, and may be associated with loss of appetite or significant unintentional weight loss).

If you are nervous about speaking to your GP about any of the above symptoms, or any other possible cancer signs, you can seek advice about how to prepare and what questions to ask at the appointment, as well as discuss any other cancer concerns, by calling Macmillan's helpline on 0808 808 00 00.

Read more about cancer:

• Five lifestyle changes to cut your risk of cancer (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)

• Five cervical cancer warning signs you should never ignore (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)

• What is secondary cancer? Linda Nolan dies aged 65 (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)