Cases of lung, liver and cervical cancers in Greater Manchester are higher than the national average, according to new data collated by North West Cancer Research.
Released today (Thursday 13 November 2025), the charity’s report – which is the fifth in the series – presents statistics highlighting concerning trends, revealing that prevalence rates for certain cancer types are up to 19% higher in the North West than the national norm.
The report focuses on the prevalence rates of cancer in the region, which refers to the proportion of the population currently living with cancer.
In the five counties of the North West, some areas show significantly higher rates of health issues than national statistics would suggest.
However, Greater Manchester’s overall cancer rate is 9% lower than the rest of the country, although its younger-than-average population obscures the true picture, the report says.
Some of the area’s key challenges include lung cancer which is 23% more prevalent than the national norm, while liver and cervical cancer are 10% and 9% higher than average, respectively.
Across the North West, sixteen of the 20 major cancers examined in the report occur more often than the national average, with lung and oesophageal cancers showing the biggest gaps at both 19% higher.
Cervical, head & neck, bladder, and skin cancers are also more prevalent in the North West, with rates at 18%, 17%, 13%, and 11% above the national average, respectively.
According to latest records, 5,630 per 100,000 people in the North West are currently living with cancer, with most counties suffering from issues around specific cancer types.
Alastair Richards, CEO of North West Cancer Research, said: “Our latest regional report is the fifth in the series, and focuses on the disparity between national cancer prevalence rates, and those in the North West.
“Similar to previous years, it is concerning to see just how much the North West falls behind the national average. This inequality can be linked to lifestyle and socioeconomic factors, with some of the most deprived communities also recording the worst cancer rates. Age also stands out as an important factor, with areas that have older than average populations also experiencing significant cancer challenges.
“There’s been some incredible research breakthroughs in recent years and it’s inspiring to see what scientists and clinicians can achieve. However, there’s evidently much more work to do and understanding the multifaceted complexities of the North West’s cancer landscape is essential to finding the solutions that will put our region on a path to a cancer free future.
“This is why we are committed to prioritising the needs of our region, funding pioneering research and education to tackle the cause, improve the care and find the cure for cancer. In this, our regional reports are vital to highlighting exactly what the problem areas are and where they are.”
