In 2012, the average death rate from cancer in under-75s across the country was 123 per 100,000 population, compared to 118 in 2009.
The area with the highest rate in 2012 was Bradford in West Yorkshire, which saw 170 deaths for every 100,000 registered patients.
Harrow in North West London had the lowest rate, recording only 91 deaths per 100,000.
For some reason, Cancer charities expressed surprise at the figures (compiled by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, HSCIC). Yet several studies in the last few years have shown a doubling of breast cancer in the under 60s, which group now accounts for 40 per cent of the disease; and a 6 fold increase in prostate cancer in the forty-something age group. Also figures show that while cancer rates have doubled in the last 25 years some children’s cancers have trebled.
The two biggest causes of early death across England are heart disease and cancer, making up around a third of all premature deaths.