Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women today (after lung cancer) and is the most common cancer among women, excluding nonmelanoma skin cancers. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.2 million people will be diagnosed with breast cancer each year worldwide. The American Cancer Society estimates that 178,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2007. Breast cancer death rates have been dropping steadily since 1990, according to the Society, because of earlier detection and better treatments. About 40,910 breast cancer deaths are expected in 2007.

According to the American Cancer Society, the chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman’s death is about 1 in 33 (3%). The incidence rate of breast cancer (number of new breast cancers per 100,000 women) increased by approximately 4% during the 1980s but leveled off to 100.6 cases per 100,000 women in the 1990s. The death rates from breast cancer also declined significantly between 1992 and 1996, with the largest decreases among younger women. Medical experts attribute the decline in breast cancer deaths to earlier detection and more effective treatments.

Consider the following statistics related to breast cancer:

 
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer. Currently, approximately 3 million women in the US are living with the disease, including 2 million who have already been diagnosed, and another 1 million who do not yet know they have the disease.  
• American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates for 2003 include 211,300 new cases of invasive breast cancer being diagnosed in the US. In addition, ductal carcinoma in situ will be responsible for 55,700 new cases this year.  
• In 2003, it is estimated that 1,300 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer.  
• Year 2003 estimates include 40,200 deaths occurring from breast cancer in the US alone - this includes approximately 39,800 women and 400 men.  
• Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women between the ages of 20 and 59 in the US, and the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide.  
• One out of eight women will develop breast cancer some time during her life - this means one new diagnosis every 2 minutes. Every 13 minutes, a woman will die of breast cancer, according to the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC).  
• All women, regardless of family history, are at risk for breast cancer. In fact, in 90 percent of cases, there is no family history of the disease.  
• Regardless of age, African-American women have the highest breast cancer mortality rates.  
• According to the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, SEER (1995 to 1997), if current rates stay the same, a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer is as follows:

 
• birth to 39 - 1 out of 228 women  
• 40 to 59 - 1 out of 24 women  
• 60 to 79 - 1 out of 14 women  
• during her lifetime - 1 out of 8 women

Estimated BREAST Cancer Cases/Deaths Worldwide

Incidence By Age

This risk model is based on population averages. Each woman’s breast cancer risk may be higher or lower, depending upon a several factors, including family history, genetics, age of menstruation, and other factors that have not yet been identified.

Incidence By Age

This risk model is based on population averages. Each woman’s breast cancer risk may be higher or lower, depending upon a several factors, including family history, genetics, age of menstruation, and other factors that have not yet been identified.

Incidence By Ethnic Group

All women are at risk for developing breast cancer. The older a woman is, the greater her chances of developing breast cancer. Approximately 77% of breast cancer cases occur in women over 50 years of age.

According to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute:

  * White, Hawaiian, and African-American women have the highest incidence of invasive breast cancer in the United States (approximately four times higher than the lowest group).
  * Korean, American Indian, and Vietnamese women have the lowest incidence of invasive breast cancer in the United States.
  * African-American have the highest death rate from breast cancer and are more likely to be diagnosed with a later stage of breast cancer than White women.
  * In the age groups, 30-54 and 55-69 years, African-American women have the highest death rate from breast cancer, followed by Hawaiian women, and white non-Hispanic women. However, in the 70 year old age group, the death rate from breast cancer for white women is higher than for African –American.