Breast Cancer Facts
United States, 2008
- In 2008, 182,460 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer (1 every 3 minutes); 40,480 will die (1 in every 13 minutes). In men, 1,990 will develop breast cancer and 450 will die.
- Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women between the ages of 40-59.
- When breast cancer is confined to the breast, the 5 year survival is over 95%.
- The mortality rate from breast cancer could be decreased by 30% if every woman over 50 was informed about and followed the guidelines of breast cancer early detection.
- A woman living in the United States has a 12.28% or 1 in 8 probability of developing invasive breast cancer sometime during her lifetime.
- Aside from being female, age is the most important factor affecting breast cancer risk. About 2 out of 3 women with invasive breast cancer are age 55 or older when the cancer is found.
- Excluding cancer of the skin, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women.
- Breast cancer ranks second as a cause of cancer death in women (after lung cancer.)
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An estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women.
In addition, an estimated 67,770 new cases of in situ breast cancer will be diagnosed. - An estimated 1990 new cases of breast cancer are expected in men.
- An estimated 40,930 deaths (40,480 women and 450 men) are expected this year.
- Death rates from breast cancer have steadily decreased in women since 1990, with larger decreases in women younger than 50 (a decrease of 3.3% per year), than in those 50 years and older (a decrease of 2% per year). The decrease in breast cancer death rates represents progress in both earlier detection and improved treatment. Mammography can detect breast cancer at an early stage when treatment may be more effective and survival is more likely. Numerous studies have shown that early detection saves lives and increases treatment options.
- No one knows the exact causes of breast cancer, but research has shown that women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop the disease. However, it is important to keep in mind that most women who have known risk factors do not get breast cancer.
- Only about 5% to 10% of breast cancers are thought to be linked to genetic risk factors (mutations in certain genes.)
- Most women with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease. In fact, except for growing older, most women with breast cancer have no clear risk factors.
- According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the Affordable Care Act provides for Breast Cancer Mammography screenings every 1 to 2 years for women over 40.
- According to the American College of Radiology: For every 1,000 women who have a screening mammogram:100 are recalled to get more mammography or ultrasound images, 20 are recommended for a needle biopsy, and 5 are diagnosed with breast cancer
Florida, 2008
- An estimated 11,850 new cases of breast cancer in women will be diagnosed and 2,760 will die from this disease.
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Average annual age-adjusted rates for breast cancer in Florida per 100,000 persons:
Florida Incidence Rate: 119.7 National Average: 125.3
Florida Mortality Rate: 23.5 National Average: 25.5
