People in Devon are statistically the most likely in England to be diagnosed with cancer, according to newly released data from the NHS.
NHS England’s 2023 Cancer Services report recorded that the area had just over 9,000 new cases of cancer, giving a rate of 716 new cases of the disease per 100,000 people, in one year.
This was more than double the rate in north-east London, which with 318 cases of cancer per 100,000 people had the lowest rate of the disease in the country.
Nationally, England recorded more than 340,000 new cases of cancer between April 2022 and March 2023, a rate of 548 per 100,000 people, the latest data available.
This is the highest rate and number of diagnoses since 2009/10.
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly came second, with 715 cases of the disease per 100,000 people, just below Devon.
Dorset joined the other two south-west areas and came third with 714 cancer cases per 100,000 people.
The lowest cancer rates in the country were all seen in north London.
NHS England’s 2023 Cancer Services report recorded that Devon had just over 9,000 new cases of cancer, giving a rate of 716 cases of the disease per 100,000 people. Pictured Exmouth in Devon
This graph shows the number of cancer cases per 100,000 people in England over time. Cases suffered a massive drop during the height of the pandemic, this has been widely attributed to reduced cancer screening during lockdowns and the general disruption of regular NHS services during the height of Covid.
After the north east of the capital, the north west recorded 329 cases of cancer per 100,000 people, followed by north central London with 363 cases per 100,000 people.
Experts told MailOnline that the difference in cancer rates across the country is probably due to the demographics of people living in some areas, which puts them at higher risk of developing cancer.
Professor Karol Sikora, a retired oncologist and former director of the World Health Organization’s cancer programme, said: “It all depends on the age of the populations.
“Cities on the south coast have many elderly residents, who are at much higher risk of cancer, compared to urban areas like London, which have a younger population.”
Cancer risk has been shown to be closely related to age, as damage to cells that can trigger the disease accumulates over time.
Data from Cancer Research UK shows that Brits aged 50 to 74 make up just over half of new diagnoses of the disease each year.
Those over 75 years of age represent a significant proportion of the remaining cases: just over a third.
And Britons between 85 and 89 years old are the most likely to suffer from cancer.
Cancer rates for men this age are nearly 3,500 per 100,000 people, while the rate for women is lower, about 2,250 per 100,000.
This does not mean that cancer does not occur in younger people.
Although still a minority, experts are concerned about the recent increase in youth cancer cases compared to historical levels, particularly colon cancer.
Regardless of age, doctors are urging Brits to be on the lookout for cancer symptoms, such as a sudden new lump on the body, unexplained bleeding and changes in bowel habits.
Other signs of cancer vary depending on the type of disease, but may include unexplained weight loss, cough that lasts three weeks or longer, swelling, new or changing moles, stomach or back pain, yellowed skin, and fatigue.