Breast cancer is the second most common cancer affecting American women but is much less common in American men, according to statistics from the American Cancer Society (ACS).^1,2

Although breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, breast cancer deaths have been steadily declining since 1989.¹

Read on for statistics on breast cancer incidence and death across subgroups.

1. Breast cancer rates are increasing.

The ACS estimates that, this year, there will be 297,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed in women and 2800 new cases in men.^1,2 An estimated 55,720 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) will be diagnosed this year as well.¹

These numbers are slightly higher than estimates from 2022, which were 287,850 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 51,400 new cases of DCIS among women.³

According to US Cancer Statistics data, the incidence of breast cancer decreased by 2.1% per year during 1999-2004 but increased by 0.3% per year during 2004-2018.⁴

2. One in 8 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime.

As of 2023, 1 in every 8 women (13%) will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their life, according to the ACS.¹ For men, the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is 1 in 833 (0.12%).²

3. White women are slightly more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than women of other races or ethnicities.

According to Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data, during 2016-2020, the annual rates of new breast cancer cases per 100,000 women were:

126.9 for all women
136.3 for non-Hispanic White women
128.3 for non-Hispanic Black women
107.4 for non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native women
106.4 for non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander women
98.5 for Hispanic women.⁵

4. Breast cancer is most often diagnosed in women in their 60s.

According to SEER data, during 2016-2022, the median age at breast cancer diagnosis was 63 years.⁵ In the same time period, the percentages of new cases of breast cancer according to age group were:

2.0% for 20 to 34 years
8.3% for 35 to 44 years
18.5% for 45 to 54 years
25.4% for 55 to 64 years
26.8% for 65 to 74 years
13.9% for 75 to 84 years
5.1% for 85 years and older.

5. The most common breast cancer subtype in the United States is HR-positive/HER2-negative.

SEER data from 2016-2020 suggest that hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer is the most common subtype.⁶ The percentages of cases by subtype were:

69% for HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer
10% for triple-negative breast cancer
10% for HR-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer
4% for HR-negative, HER2-positive breast cancer
7% for unknown subtypes.

6. Breast cancer survival rates have improved in recent years.

SEER data from 2013-2019 suggest the 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer is 90.8%.⁵ Data from women diagnosed with breast cancer during 2012-2018 suggest the 5-year relative survival rate is:

91% overall
99% for localized breast cancer (not including DCIS)
86% for regional breast cancer
30% for distant breast cancer.⁷

These data demonstrate a significant improvement from relative survival rates reported decades earlier.⁸ For example, for patients diagnosed during 1975-1977, the relative 5-year survival rate was 74.8%.

However, 5-year survival rates seem to have plateaued. For patients diagnosed during 2003-2009, the relative 5-year survival rate was 90.3%.

7. Deaths from breast cancer have been steadily decreasing.

Breast cancer-related deaths decreased by 43% between 1989 and 2020.³ This was a reversal from the prior trend, when the rate of death increased by 0.4% per year from 1975 to 1989.

The decline in breast cancer deaths does appear to be slowing, however. The annual decrease was 1.9% during 1998-2011 but 1.3% during 2011-2020.³

The ACS estimates that 43,700 women and 530 men will die from breast cancer in 2023.^1,2

8. Non-Hispanic Black women are significantly more likely to die from breast cancer than women of other races or ethnicities.

Although non-Hispanic White women are the group most likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, non-Hispanic Black women are the group most likely to die of the disease, according to SEER data.⁵

During 2016-2020, there were 19.6 breast cancer deaths per 100,000 women per year. Yearly death rates by race/ethnicity were:

27.6 for non-Hispanic Black women
19.7 for non-Hispanic White women
17.6 for non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native women
13.7 for Hispanic women
11.7 for Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander women.

9. Most patients with stage I or II breast cancer opt for breast-conserving surgery, with or without adjuvant radiation.

In 2018, 63% of patients with stage I or II breast cancer underwent breast-conserving surgery, with or without adjuvant radiation, and 33% underwent mastectomy, according to SEER data.³

10. The number of breast cancer survivors in the United States is more than 4 million.

More than 4 million breast cancer survivors are currently living in the United States, according to the ACS.¹ This number accounts for both patients in remission and those who are still undergoing treatment.

This article originally appeared on Cancer Therapy Advisor.

References

1. Key statistics for breast cancer. American Cancer Society. Updated September 14, 2023. Accessed October 10, 2023. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html

2. Key statistics for breast cancer in men. American Cancer Society. Updated January 12, 2023. Accessed October 10, 2023. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer-in-men/about/key-statistics.html

3. Giaquinto AN, Sung H, Miller KD, et al. Breast cancer statistics, 2022. CA Cancer J Clin. 2022;72(6):524-541. doi:10.3322/caac.21754

4. Ellington TD, Miller JW, Henley SJ, Wilson RJ, Wu M, Richardson LC. Trends in breast cancer incidence, by race, ethnicity, and age among women aged ≥20 years — United States, 1999-2018. MMWR Morb Mortal Weekly Rep. 2022;71(2):43-47. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7102a2

5. Cancer stat facts: Female breast cancer. National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Accessed October 10, 2023. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html

6. Cancer stat facts: Female breast cancer subtypes. National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Accessed October 10, 2023. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast-subtypes.html

7. Survival rates for breast cancer. American Cancer Society. Updated March 1, 2023. Accessed October 10, 2023. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/understanding-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis/breast-cancer-survival-rates.html

8. Cancer of the female breast (invasive). National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Accessed October 10, 2023. https://seer.cancer.gov/archive

10 Critical Breast Cancer Statistics for 2023