According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. And while advances in diagnosis and treatment have led to a dramatic decrease in breast-cancer-related mortality over the last three decades, it’s still claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of women each year. That’s why it’s important to continue to be vigilant and remain informed about the disease and the latest facts around it. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so it’s an ideal time to do just that.
We’ve compiled the following facts and statistics from a variety of sources, including the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen Foundation. It’s our hope that they’ll serve as a reminder to all of us that breast cancer remains a serious health concern for women (and men) in our community, across the country, and around the world.
- Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women. In 2020, approximately 30% of all new women cancer diagnoses are expected to be breast cancer.
- 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
- On average, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States every two minutes.
- The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass in the breast tissue.
- An estimated 42,170 women will die from breast cancer in the U.S. this year.
- Although rare, men get breast cancer, too. In 2020, an estimated 2,620 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. and approximately 520 will die.
- Thanks to increased awareness, early detection, better screening, and continually improving treatment, breast cancer mortality decreased by 40 percent from 1989-2017. That means about 375,900 breast cancer deaths were avoided in that time.
- There are over 3.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.
While the improving incidence and survivorship statistics are certainly encouraging, they shouldn’t discourage caution. Mount Carmel recommends that starting at age 40, women receive an annual mammogram screening. It’s also important to have any new breast mass, lump, or breast change checked by an experienced health care professional right away.
So stay informed, do you monthly self-exams, and take action whenever you find anything unusual. Together we’ll beat breast cancer.