Page last updated: 25-SEP-2007

Cancer

Statistical Publication Notice

25 September 2007

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Cancer Mortality 2006

INTRODUCTION

The updated figures show cancer mortality (1980-2006) for each main type of cancer, and replace information previously available on the ISD Scotland website.

KEY POINTS

In 2006, 7,692 males and 7,333 females died from cancer in Scotland. Taking all cancers combined, age-standardised mortality rates have fallen over the last 10 years (1996-2006) by approximately 8%.

The cancers that cause the greatest mortality in Scotland are lung, colorectal, breast and prostate.  Colorectal cancer deaths have decreased over the past 10 years by 18% for both sexes combined.  Mortality from lung cancer in men has decreased by 23%, but in women it has increased by a significant 6% over the last 10 years. In that same time period, deaths from prostate cancer have decreased by 8%, and deaths from female breast cancer decreased by 11%.

Notes for interpretation:

  1. The cancer mortality rates for the less common cancers may be highly variable from year to year; this may be due in part to random fluctuation due to small numbers. As such, cancer mortality trends are more reliable over longer time periods, such as decades.
  2. All trends were calculated using Poisson regression.
  3. Cancer mortality data is sourced from the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS), released on their website in July 2007 this link to the General Register Office for Scotland opens in a new window   http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/

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MAIN CONTACTS:

Susan Jensen
Principal Statistician
0131 275 6125
susan.Jensen@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk
 
Judith Stark
Senior Statistician
0131 275 7562
Judith.Stark@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk
 
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GLOSSARY:

Colorectal cancer is often referred to as bowel cancer

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PRE-RELEASE ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICATION WAS GIVEN TO:

Chief Executives of the Scottish NHS Healthboards
Scottish Executive Health Department

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HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:

Last Published:  September 2006
Next Due:  September 2008
Data Available since:  Data on cancer mortality were previously published from 1979 onwards but are now published from 1980 onwards.  Earlier data are available on request.


 

Main contact: Email Cancer Stats