About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a type of cancer where cells in the breast tissue divide and grow without normal control. It is a widespread and random disease, striking women and men of all ages and races. It is the most prevalent cancer in the world today, with about 1.3 million people diagnosed annually. The exact cause of the disease is unknown, and at this time, there is no cure.

But there is hope. Thanks to heightened awareness, early detection through screening, improved treatment methods and increased access to breast health services, people have a greater chance of survival than ever before.

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure national website, komen.org, offers comprehensive information about breast cancer risk factors, early detection and screening, diagnosis and treatment. Developed in conjunction with the Harvard School of Public Health, the site offers a one-stop resource for all the latest information on the disease.
 

Statistics       

Education and Early Detection Increase Survival

• There is no known cure for advanced breast cancer.
• Detection of breast cancer at an early stage provides a greater chance for a cure and more treatment options.
• When the disease is confined to the breast, the 5-year survival rate is more than 95%.
• More Caucasian women than African American women develop breast cancer. However, more African American women die of breast cancer.
• Approximately 80% of breast cancers occur in women 50 years and older. The mortality rate would decrease by 30% if every woman over 50 was informed and followed the early screening guidelines.
• National Statistics (2008 estimated)

What are the estimated numbers of new breast cancer cases and deaths for the year 2008?

An estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2008. An estimated 40,480 women will die from breast cancer. It is estimated that 1,990 men will be diagnosed and 450 men will die of breast cancer during 2008. In addition to invasive breast cancer, 67,770 new cases of in situ breast cancer are expected to occur among women in 2008. Of these, approximately 85 percent will be ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Breast Cancer in Hispanics/Latinas

Hispanic/Latina women show lower breast cancer screening rates than non-Hispanic/Latina White women and tend to seek and attain health care services less frequently than other ethnic groups. However, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Hispanic/Latina women; an estimated 14,300 Hispanics/Latinas are expected to be diagnosed in 2006. An estimated 1,740 deaths from breast cancer are expected to occur among Hispanics/Latinas in 2006. Studies also show that even though Hispanic/Latina women have lower breast cancer rates, they are 20 percent more likely to die from the disease. This contradiction is due to the fact that Hispanic/Latina women are less likely to participate in mammography screening and more likely to be diagnosed at later stages of breast cancer. Studies consistently show that low income, low educational attainment, lack of health insurance, inability to speak English, lack of awareness of breast cancer risks and screening methods, acculturation level and lack of physician referral play important roles in the lower rates of screening utilization by Hispanic/Latina women.

Breast Cancer in African Americans

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among African American women and the second leading cause of cancer death among African American women, exceeded only by lung cancer. In 2007, an estimated 19,010 new cases of breast cancer and 5,830 deaths are expected to occur among African American women. Although breast cancer incidence is lower among African Americans, African American women have a 36 percent higher breast cancer death rate than Caucasian women. African American women's survival rate for breast cancer has increased in recent decades. From 1996-2002, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer among African American women was 77 percent compared to 90 percent among Caucasian women. The factors that may explain this difference in survival rates include biologic and genetic differences in tumors, the presence of risk factors, barriers to health care access, health behaviors and later stage of disease at diagnosis. Participation in annual mammography screening and treatment of the disease at its earliest stages offers the best opportunity for decreasing mortality and improving survival.

Important Facts

• Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for women between the ages of 40 and 59.
• The majority of all breast cancers occur in women with no known risk factors.
• All women are at risk; risk increases with advancing age.
  

Breast Cancer in Florida (2005 estimated)

• 6.5% of these new cases are found in Florida, while only 5.2% of the U.S. population lives in the state.
• Miami-Dade County has the highest rate of late-stage breast cancer in Hispanic women than in the United States.

Education and Early Detection Increase Survival

• There is no known cure for advanced breast cancer.
• Detection of breast cancer at an early stage provides a greater chance for a cure and more treatment options.
• When the disease is confined to the breast, the 5-year survival rate is more than 95%.
• More Caucasian women than African American women develop breast cancer. However, more African American women die of breast cancer.
• Approximately 80% of breast cancers occur in women 50 years and older. The mortality rate would decrease by 30% if every woman over 50 was informed and followed the early screening guidelines.

 National Statistics (2005 estimated)

• 211,240 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer (one every 3 minutes).
• 40,410 women will die (one every 13 minutes).
• 1,690 men will develop breast cancer and 460 will die.
• Approximately 212,930 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in the United States every year.

 Facts about breast cancer in men