Approximately 1 in 8 women (13%) in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer at some point in their life.
While advances in screening and treatment have reduced the overall risk of death from the disease, the number of people diagnosed with breast cancer continues to rise. One report found the breast cancer incidence increased by 1% per year between 2012 and 2021.
How common is breast cancer?
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Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women in the U.S. Each year, about 30% of all newly diagnosed cancers in women are breast cancer.
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In 2024, approximately 310,720 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, 16% of which will be in women younger than 50 years of age. Also, 56,500 women will be diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
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About 66% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage — before cancer has spread outside of the breast — when treatments tend to work better.
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There are currently more than four million women with a history of breast cancer in the U.S. This includes women currently being treated and women who have finished treatment.
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Less than 1% of all breast cancers occur in men.
Breast cancer facts Historical incidence rates Between 1980 and 2000, breast cancer incidence rates in the U.S. climbed, before dropping in the early 2000s. One theory is that this decrease was partially due to the reduced use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by women after the results of a large study called the Women’s Health Initiative were published in 2002. These results suggested a connection between HRT and increased breast cancer risk. From 2012 to 2021 (the most recent decade of data available), invasive breast cancer incidence increased by 1% per year.
Age at diagnosis The median age at the time of breast cancer diagnosis is 62 — meaning that half of women with breast cancer are diagnosed before age 62 and half are diagnosed afterward.
Source: Text: https://www.breastcancer.org/facts-statistics Image: https://www.bcrf.org/blog/breast-cancer-awareness-month-ideas-fundraising/
This information is provided by Breastcancer.org.
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World Menopause Day is held each year on 18 October to raise awareness, break the stigma and highlight the support available for improving health and wellbeing for those experiencing menopause.
