There will be many new cases of breast cancer diagnosed this year in the U.S., an estimated 200,000 cases. That is not the only number associated with this startling diagnosis for many women; there are many other statistics that greatly impact this disease.
Breast cancer affects women everywhere and from every facet of life. This is a glimpse at the disease from the perspective of comparative numbers.
33 Facts About Breast Cancer
- Every 2 minutes, there is a new breast cancer diagnosis.
- Women are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer than men.
- 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
- Breast cancer is the #1 most common cancer in women.
- Breast cancer is the #2 leading cause of death for the female population.
- It is the leading cause of death for women 40-55 years old.
- 77% of diagnosed cases are in women over 55 years old.
- 5-10% of breast cancer cases are associated with inherited genetic mutations, BRCA1 and BRCA2.
- A woman has a 40-80% risk of contracting breast cancer if the inherited gene mutations are detected.
- 85% of all diagnosed cases have no family history of breast cancer.
- 200,000 cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed this year in the U.S.
- 20-30% of patients diagnosed with breast cancer will develop metastatic breast cancer.
- Stage 0 breast cancer is disease that is completely confined to the breast and has not invaded surrounding tissue.
- Stage 0 disease carries with it a 5-year survival rate because the disease is limited to breast tissue only.
- Stage 1 breast cancer is confined to breast tissue and has invaded surrounding tissue.
- Stages 2, 3 and 4 breast cancer is more invasive and has spread to surrounding tissue, lymph nodes and/or other organs.
- 6-10% of patients are initially diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer.
- Women diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer have a 20% chance of survival for 5 years.
- There are 155,000 cases of metastatic breast cancer currently diagnosed in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society.
- 88% of women diagnosed with breast cancer will live 10 years after their initial diagnosis.
- The disease is less common, but more aggressive, if a woman is diagnosed before the age of 50.
- Every 14 minutes, someone dies from breast cancer.
- The morality rate for breast cancer has dropped to 3 in 10 since 1990.
- There are 40,000 deaths annually in U.S. from metastatic breast cancer.
- 400 of the annually documented deaths in the U.S. are male.
- $8.1 billion is spent annually in U.S to treat breast cancer.
- Women should begin performing monthly breast self-exams at the age of 20.
- Women should have a comprehensive, manual breast exam by a physician every 3 years.
- 25% of breast cancer cases are detected through a breast exam, whether it is a self-exam or done by a physician.
- Age 40 is when the majority of women are advised to start having annual mammograms. There are exceptions to this standard rule such as family history and individual clinical findings.
- 35% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed through mammogram.
- 40% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed through a combination of exam and mammography.
Breast cancer is a serious, life-threatening disease, which dramatically impacts women, their families and their friends. The statistics are astounding and the numbers associated with the disease confirm the importance of moving forward with patient teaching about prevention, detection and treatment. The continued and intensive research on breast cancer is paramount in the fight to change and lower the breast cancer case statistics.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the U.S. There are far too many women in this country who are all too aware of this disease. The statistics prove that fact.
Jamie Pratt is a contributing writer for The Breast Cancer Society, Inc. — a comprehensive resource guide covering breast cancer information, facts, statistics and other pertinent information. Learn more about their cause and join the community that has already helped thousands of breast cancer patients and survivors.
