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About 1 in 8 women in the United States (between 12 and 13%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. In 2010, an estimated 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed, along with 54,010 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer. About 39,840 women are expected to die in 2010 from breast cancer, though there has been a decrease in death rates since 1991. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advancements, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness. For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than any other cancer, besides lung cancer. Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. More than 1 in 4 cancers are breast cancer. White women over the age of 40 have a higher rate of breast cancer than African American women over the age of 40. However, African American women under the age of 40 have a higher breast cancer rate than white women under the age of 40. African American women are also more likely to die from the disease. As of 2010, there are more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. A woman's risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) that has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 20-30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of breast cancer. About 5-10% of breast cancers are caused by inherited gene mutations (abnormal changes passed through families). Mutations of the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes are the most common inherited genetic mutations. Women with this mutation have up to an 80% risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, often at a younger age than it typically develops. An increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic mutations. The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (growing older). Source: American Cancer Society Cancer (September 2010) For additional information about breast cancer visit these websites:
American Cancer Society www.cancer.org
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