More than a million people will die from cancer across Europe this year, according to new estimates.
The 1.28 million deaths will be 35,000 more than in 2007 – but when population numbers are taken into account will mean a fall in overall death rates.
The numbers apply to the European Union and are based on continent wide trends as well as figures from six large countries including the UK.
They show that Britain is the only country that might see a fall in deaths of lung cancer among women – suggesting the UK has done better than other countries at persuading women to give up tobacco.
The estimates are published today in the Annals of Oncology.
The researchers say an increase in deaths from cancer of the pancreas – which is linked to obesity – may have ended.
Researcher Professor Carlo La Vecchia, of the University of Milan, Italy, said: "Despite these favourable trends in cancer death rates in Europe the number of cancer deaths remains approximately stable, due to the ageing of the population.
"Further, there is a persisting gap in cancer mortality between central and eastern European countries compared to western Europe, and this is likely to persist for the foreseeable future."
European cancer mortality predictions for the year 2011. Annals of Oncology. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdq774
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