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Breast Cancer Facts and Figures
This article is written in October of 2004, and reflects the current available statistics. The following are facts and figures related to breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer occurring in females excluding skin cancer. It is the
second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. It is the number one cause of
cancer deaths in females aged 40-55.
There is estimated to be approximately 216,000 invasive female breast cancers in the USA this year, and approximately 40,110 will die. In addition, there will be approximately 59,400 cases of DCIS/(Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) in the U.S. this year, as well. (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ is actually a collection of cancer cells that has remained where it originally formed, and has not "invaded" into the surrounding tissue.)
Do men get breast cancer? The answer is yes, but they account for less than 1% of all cases. In 2003, there were 1300 cases of male breast cancer and an associated 400 deaths. There are currently over 2million breast cancer "survivors," that have been treated, living in America. In California alone, there will be approximately 22,415 breast cancers diagnosed, and 4200 deaths.
These statistics can be translated into someone being diagnosed with breast cancer every three
minutes in this country alone. 
A woman, in her lifetime has a one in eight chance of being
diagnosed with breast carcinoma, and a one in twenty eight chance of dying from it.
The incidence has increased 30% over the last thirty years, and 5% since only 2002.
Why is this? One of the reasons is that the baby boomers are aging, and breast cancer is more
common as the population ages.
In addition, modern day mammography is catching more cancers,
and catching them earlier. This is the first time in modern history that the breast cancer
survival rates are improving.
It is amazing that with these sobering statistics, 39% of age-eligible women, in California, are still not getting their annual mammograms. Remember ladies that of every 1000 women that go for their screening mammograms, approximately 995 will receive a cancer-free diagnosis. Those are odds worth playing: be your own health care advocate, and get your yearly mammogram!!
Click here to view an interview about the Breast Health Center and why you need to get a mammogram!
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