Statistics on breast cancer:
Consider the following statistics related to breast cancer:
- Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed non-skin cancer in women. 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 2004 include 215,990 new cases of invasive breast cancer being diagnosed in the US. In addition, carcinoma in situ will be responsible for 59,390 new cases this year. Of these, 85 percent will be ductal carcinoma in situ.
- In 2004, it is estimated that 1,450 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Year 2004 estimates include 40,580 deaths occurring from breast cancer in the US alone - this includes approximately 40,110 women and 470 men.
- Breast cancer ranks second among cancer deaths in women (after lung cancer).
- Regardless of age, African-American women have the highest breast cancer mortality rates.
- According to the National Cancer Institute, 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