Risk of developing cancer drops – for men

The risk of developing cancer has fallen by 3 per cent over a decade, according to new figures.

Official statistics show that the risk for Scottish men decreased by 6 per cent in the ten years to 2016 – however, among women it increased by 2 per cent.

The number of cases diagnosed rose to 31,331 in 2016, up 3,000 from a decade earlier, attributed to an ageing population, withcancermorecommon among older people.

The data showed people who live in more deprived areas of Scotland are 26 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than those living in the least deprived areas.

Lung cancer remains the most common cancer with 5,045 cases diagnosed in 2016. For the first time, more women than men were diagnosed with lung cancer.