Breast Cancer Statistics

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The United States

From the 1940s until recently, the rate of new cases of breast cancer (called incidence) in the United States increased by a little over one percent a year. In the 1980s, the rate of new cases rose markedly (likely due to increased screening), and during the 1990s the rate of new cases leveled off. From 2002 to 2003 there was a marked decline in the rate of new breast cancer cases and then rates leveled off again [5,41]. Although mammography screening rates fell somewhat over this same time period, recent studies show these changes were not likely related to the decline in breast cancer rates [19,42]. The decline appears to be related to the drop in use of postmenopausal hormones that occurred after the Women's Health Initiative study showed that their use increased risk of breast cancer and heart disease [19,41,42,43]. About 192,370 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women in 2009 [5]. In 1975 the incidence of breast cancer was 107 per 100,000 for white women and 94 per 100,000 for black women. Thirty years later in 2005, the number of new cases per year had risen to 126 per 100,000 for white women and 114 per 100,000 for black women [13].

Even though incidence has increased over the past 30 years, mortality (the rate of death) for white women has decreased. In 1975, 32 per 100,000 white women (including Hispanic women) died of breast cancer, but by 2005, that figure had dropped to 23 per 100,000. For black women (including Hispanic), though, mortality increased somewhat over the same period, rising from 30 per 100,000 black women in 1975 to 33 per 100,000 in 2005 [13]. (Figure 1.2 shows this trend).

Figure 1.2

As screening programs have become more common, more cases of breast cancer are being found in earlier stages, when they are more easily and successfully treated. During the 1980s and 1990s, diagnoses of early-stage cancer and conditions such as DCIS and LCIS increased greatly. Since the late 1990s these rates have remained steady. At the same time, diagnoses of cases at the advanced stages have remained stable or dropped slightly [5].

Rates of male breast cancer have changed little over the past 30 years and are much lower than rates for female breast cancer [5,13]. In 2005, the incidence of breast cancer was 122 per 100,000 in women and 1.2 per 100,000 in men. Differences in mortality were equally wide: 24 per 100,000 for women, and 0.3 per 100,000 for men [13]. For information on male breast health, visit Male Breast Cancer.

World and Domestic Variations in Rates

About 1.3 million new cases of breast cancer were expected to occur among women worldwide in 2007 (most recent data available) [44]. Rates of breast cancer around the world vary a great deal. In general, developed countries have higher rates than developing countries (see Figure 1.3 below). All the factors that make up this difference aren't known. However, lifestyle and reproductive factors are thought to play a large role. Low screening rates and incomplete reporting can make rates of breast cancer in developing countries look lower than they truly are and may also explain some of the difference. 

Even within the United States, breast cancer rates vary across the country (see Figure 1.4) and racially/ethnically (see Figure 1.5).  White women have the highest incidence, while American Indian and Alaskan Native women have the lowest. Of note, immigrants in the United States usually have rates similar to their country of origin's breast cancer risk. Over generations however, the daughters and granddaughters of immigrants take on a risk similar to U.S. women. 

Updated 11/11/09

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