How men are 50% more likely to die of cancer

Data published by Cancer Research UK shows more than 4.6 million men die from the disease every year across the globe – the equivalent to 126 men in every 100,000.

This compares to about 3.5 million women who die from the disease, or 82 women per 100,000.

Central and eastern Europe are the regions where men are most likely to die compared to women, whereas East Africa has the highest death rates for women.

It is one of the few regions where rates for women are higher than for men.

In the UK, there is also a stark difference, previously reported, which shows men are 30 per cent more likely to die than women.

There are just over 126 cancer deaths per 100,000 men in the UK, compared to about 97 per 100,000 women.

This is one of the lowest differences seen in Europe but still represents a sizeable inequality.

The four biggest cancer killers worldwide are of the lung, liver, stomach and bowel.

Together, they cause almost half of all cancer deaths worldwide.

The figures, compiled by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, also show that more than 14 million people around the world are diagnosed with cancer every year.

Men are almost a quarter (24 per cent) more likely to be diagnosed with the disease than women.

Nick Ormiston-Smith, head of statistics at Cancer Research UK, said: “The contrast in cancer death rates between the sexes may be down to more men being diagnosed with types of cancers that are harder to treat, such as cancers of the bladder, liver, lung and oesophagus.

“Cancer is estimated to account for around 16 per cent of all deaths worldwide.

“Age is the biggest risk factor for most cancers and, as global life-expectancy increases, we’ll see more people being diagnosed with the disease.

“But lifestyle also plays an important role.

“Worldwide, tobacco consumption has been responsible for an estimated 100 million deaths in the last century and, if current trends continue, it will kill 1,000 million in the 21st century.

“Smoking is by far the most important preventable cause of cancer in the world.”

Dr Harpal Kumar, the chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “Global research efforts have dramatically improved survival and are giving more people than ever the best possible chance of beating the disease.

“But we know that there’s still a lot more to do if we’re going to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.”