Breast Cancer: Fast Facts
- In 2006, more than 212,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). These cases will be added to the already 2.3 million women in the U.S. with a history of breast cancer.
- Excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. It accounts for nearly one in three cancers diagnosed in women in the United States.
- After 35 years of age, white women have a higher incidence of breast cancer than African-American women. African-American women, however, have a slightly higher occurrence of the disease before age 35.
- Breast cancer can develop in men but occurs at a much lower rate than in women. In 2006, about 1,720 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in men in the United States.
- The ACS estimates the chances of a woman developing breast cancer in her lifetime is one in eight. The odds of being diagnosed with breast cancer increase as a woman ages.
- The death rates from breast cancer in women have declined since 1990. The decline is attributed to improvements in detection and advances in treatment.
- The five-year survival rate among women with breast cancer improves the earlier the stage of the cancer. For women whose disease is diagnosed when it is localized, there is a 98 percent survival rate. The rate decreases significantly if the disease has spread to other areas of the body.
- On average, mammography will detect 80 to 90 percent of breast cancers in women without symptoms. Regular mammograms are the single most effective way to help detect early breast cancer.
- Women with a mother, sister or daughter affected by breast cancer have a greater risk of developing the disease themselves. Certain inherited genetic mutations, such as the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene also increase the risk.
- The ACS recommends that all women age 40 and older have a mammogram and clinical breast examination every year. Monthly breast self-examinations are also recommended by the organization.
- Most women with breast cancer will undergo some type of surgery to remove the cancer from the breast. Surgery is often combined with other treatments, including radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
- In 2006, nearly 41,000 women are expected to die from breast cancer. Only lung cancer accounts for more cancer deaths in women.
- Based on the most recent data, 88 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer will be living 5 years after diagnosis and 71 percent will survive 15 years.
- There have been significant advances in the past decade in the areas of breast cancer detection and treatment. Researchers continue to try to find a cure for this disease.
