Cancer death rates in the UK have fallen by almost 10 per cent in the last decade, although the number of cases is still going up, new figures show.
Analysis by Cancer Research UK found that 284 out of every 100,000 people in the UK died from cancer in 2013 (around 162,000 people), down from 312 in every 100,000 a decade ago.
The fall is largely due to improvements in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Men's death rates have fallen by 12 per cent over the period, while the drop among women is 8 per cent.
Cancers of the lung, bowel, breast and prostate account for almost half (46 per cent) of all cancer deaths in the UK. These four cancers saw an 11 per cent drop in death rates.
But some cancers - such as liver and pancreatic - have seen a rise in the rates of people dying, by 60 per cent for liver cancer and by 8 per cent for pancreatic cancer.
Experts have predicted that, mostly due to the fact people are living longer, one in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer.
However, some cases could be prevented, with at least a third of cancer cases each year in the UK linked to unhealthy lifestyles, obesity, smoking and diet.
Figures from Cancer Research UK also show the total number of cancer cases is still going up.
Almost 346,000 people were diagnosed with cancer in the UK in 2012, up from 282,000 in 2002 and 249,000 in 1992.
Around 162,000 people died from cancer in the UK in 2012, up from just over 155,000 in 2002, but a very similar figure to 1992.
Sir Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK's chief executive, said: "Today on World Cancer Day it's important to remember that even though the death rates are falling, the overall number of people dying from cancer is expected to increase. This is because the population is growing and more of us are living longer.
"We're increasing our efforts into key areas of research such as how to achieve earlier diagnosis, and how best to manage cancers which are currently hard to treat."
The figures come as a poll from the World Cancer Research Fund found that 18 to 24-year-olds were more aware of cancer risks than over-55s.
Younger people knew more about the risks of being overweight, drinking alcohol, eating a poor diet and not being physically active.
