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Breast cancer statistics 2024

Breast cancer accounts for almost 30% of new female cancers each year. Learn more here.
By | Updated on Oct. 25, 2024 Medically reviewed by Josephine Bawab, Pharm.D.
Statistical charts on a clipboard: Breast cancer statistics
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Breast cancer is a cancer that affects the breasts and can occur in men and women, but it is more common in women. 

Some factors can increase breast cancer risk, such as increasing age, obesity, or family history. However, breast cancer can also develop in those without any risk factors. 

This article discusses breast cancer facts and stats by age, sex, and ethnicity, as well as risk factors and survival rates.

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the breasts. It can start in the lobules, ducts, nipples, or blood vessels. 

The cancer can spread to other parts of the body when it enters the blood or lymph system. 

The American Cancer Society explains the most common types of breast cancer: 

  • Ductal carcinoma in situ: A non-invasive, pre-invasive, or stage 0 breast cancer in which the cells that line the ducts are cancerous, but they have not reached nearby breast tissue. It can be cured. 
  • Invasive breast cancer: Cancers that affect the surrounding breast tissue. They may develop in the milk ducts or lobules.

People should discuss any potential symptoms and possible risk factors with a healthcare provider.

Dr. Aaron Gilson, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in Portland, Oregon, says, “The first indication most women have breast cancer is an abnormal mammogram. However, up to 15% of women are diagnosed due to a breast mass that is not seen on mammograms, and 30% of women present with a breast mass in the time between mammograms.”

Breast cancer can also cause:

  • Swelling 
  • A lump in the underarm area
  • Thickening of the skin
  • Skin dimpling 

How common is breast cancer?

  • Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States. (ACS, 2023)
  • Breast cancer accounts for about 30% of new female cancers each year. (ACS, 2023)
  • The risk for breast cancer in women increases nearly double if their mother, sister, or daughter has had the same cancer. (Breastcancer.org, 2023)
  • Breast cancer occurs mostly in women and rarely affects men. It is estimated that 1 out of 100 breast cancer diagnoses are found in men in the U.S. (CDC, 2023)

Breast cancer statistics worldwide

  • There were 685,000 breast cancer deaths in 2020 around the world. (WHO, 2023)
  • In 2020, there were 2.3 million new breast cancer cases worldwide. (WHO, 2023)
  • The use of mammograms has increased since the 1980s, which is why a lot of new breast cancer cases are being diagnosed in developed countries, such as the U.S., the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. (Cancer Communications, 2021)

Breast cancer statistics in the United States

  • It is estimated that in 2023, around 297,790 breast cancer cases in women will be diagnosed in the U.S.
  • It is estimated that more than 55,000 American women will have ductal carcinoma in situ in 2023. 
  • Research shows that, in 2023, there will be around 43,700 breast cancer mortality cases in women in the U.S.
  • As of September of 2023, there are more than four million breast cancer survivors who have completed their breast cancer therapy or are undergoing treatment.

(ACS, 2023)

Breast cancer statistics by sex

  • Breast cancer is diagnosed in about 240,000 women and 2,100 men every year in the U.S. (CDC, 2023)
  • Breast cancer causes about 42,000 annual deaths in women and 500 annual deaths in men in the U.S. (CDC, 2023)
  • In 2020, Belgium had the highest breast cancer incidence rates in women. (World Cancer Research Fund International, 2022)
  • Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common form of breast cancer in men. It accounts for 90% of male breast cancers. (National Library of Medicine, 2022)
  • About 1 in 833 men in the U.S. will develop breast cancer throughout their lifetime. (NBCF, 2023)
  • Researchers estimate that there will be 2,800 new cases of invasive breast cancer in men in 2023. Invasive cancers are cancers that have also spread to other tissues. (NBCF, 2023)

Breast cancer statistics by age

  • Older women have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than younger women. Most diagnoses occur in people older than 50 years of age. (CDC, 2023) 
  • Few women get breast cancer under the age of 45 years. (ACS, 2023)
  • The average age of men diagnosed with breast cancer is about 67 years of age. (Cancers, 2021)

Breast cancer statistics by race and ethnicity

  • White women have a slightly higher chance of developing breast cancer than Black, Hispanic, and Asian women. (Breastcancer.org, 2023)
  • The breast cancer death rate among Black women is higher than that among White women. (CDC, 2023)
  • Breast cancer mortality rates are high among Black or Hispanic women with a low socioeconomic status background. (BMC Medicine, 2022)
  • Asian and Pacific Islander women are more likely to get localized breast cancer than other ethnic groups. This is known as early-stage cancer as it has only affected the breast tissue. (NBCF, 2023)

Breast cancer survival statistics

  • Breast cancer has a five-year survival rate of 99% when it is localized, meaning that it has not spread to other organs. 
  • Advancements in early detection tests and treatments have led to a decrease in breast cancer mortality rates since 1989. 
  • Combined, all types and stages of breast cancer have a five-year survival rate of 91%. 
  • The risk of female breast cancer nearly doubles if the woman’s sister, mother, or daughter, has had the same cancer.
  • Research estimates that 1 in 5 Black women have triple-negative breast cancer, a type of cancer that is hard to treat. 
  • Black women have a higher breast cancer mortality rate than White women and are 40% more likely to die. 
  • Hispanic women are more likely to get a diagnosis of breast cancer at a later stage than White women.
  • Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American women.

(NBCF, 2023)

The cost of breast cancer

  • Accounting for 14% of cancer treatment costs in 2020, breast cancer has the highest treatment costs of all cancers in the U.S. (CDC, 2022)
  • In 2018, out-of-pocket cancer treatment costs amounted to $5.6 billion in the U.S. (ACS, 2020)
  • In 2019, out-of-pocket breast cancer treatment costs amounted to $3.14 billion in the U.S. Breast cancer had the highest cancer treatment costs, followed by prostate, colorectal, and lung cancers. (National Cancer Institute, 2021)
  • It is not always possible to get insurance coverage for cancer treatment. Out-of-pocket costs can include medical services, outpatient visits, emergency treatments, and hospital inpatient stays. In 2019, patients paid an estimate of $16.22 billion for out-of-pocket cancer care costs. (CDC, 2021)
  • In 2020, the cost of breast cancer treatment in the U.S. was $26.2 billion for medical services and $3.5 billion for prescription medications. (CDC, 2022)

RELATED: How much does breast cancer treatment cost in the U.S.?

Causes of breast cancer

Different factors can increase people’s risk of developing breast cancer. These include:

  • Older age, as most diagnoses occur after age 50
  • BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations
  • Starting menstruation before the age of 12 years
  • Starting menopause after 55 years of age
  • Having a family history of breast or ovarian cancer 
  • Undergoing radiation therapy

Below are also risk factors that you can change:

  • Reduced physical activity
  • Weight gain
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Having a first pregnancy after the age of 30 years

(CDC, 2023)

Hormonal therapy, such as taking supplemental estrogen or progesterone, can increase breast cancer incidence rates. (National Library of Medicine, 2022)

RELATED: What causes cancer? Diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

Breast cancer prevention

The CDC explains that we do not have any control over some of the risk factors, such as age, family history, and medical history. (CDC, 2023)

However, it may help lower breast cancer risk if people engage in the following activities, according to the American Cancer Society:

  • Exercising regularly
  • Eating nutritious foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and calcium-rich dairy products
  • Limiting alcohol consumption
  • Attending breast cancer screening exams, especially if cancer runs in their family
  • Taking medications that lower breast cancer risk, such as tamoxifen or raloxifene, as these block the effects of estrogen in the breast

(ACS, 2021)

A lot of organizations also offer support and information for breast cancer survivors and people who want to know more about the condition and their risk: 

Treating breast cancer

People with breast cancer may have to see a radiologist, a breast surgeon, a medical oncologist, or a plastic surgeon, depending on the type of treatment that is needed. 

These are some of the treatments available that healthcare providers may recommend for someone with breast cancer: 

  • Surgery: The removal of breast cancer and some of its nearby tissues is called a lumpectomy, a partial mastectomy, or a segmental mastectomy. Surgeons may also perform a mastectomy, which is when they remove the entire breasts and the surrounding tissues. (ACS, 2023)
  • Chemotherapy: This includes medications that patients take orally or intravenously. Chemo drugs kill cancer cells that have not been removed during surgery and can also help shrink tumors before undergoing surgery. Chemotherapy can cause side effects, including diarrhea, hair loss, and fatigue. (ACS, 2021) 
  • Radiation therapy: This uses high-energy radiation to kill tumors. Healthcare providers may use this treatment to remove the cancer cells that cannot be removed with surgery. Radiation therapy may also be beneficial if the cancer has spread to other organs. (Breastcancer.org, 2023)

RELATED: Breast Cancer Treatments and Medications

Breast cancer questions and answers

What are the odds of getting breast cancer?

Women have a 13% risk of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. This means that they have a 1 in 8 chance of getting cancer. (ACS, 2023)

What are the 5 warning signs of breast cancer?

The 5 warning signs that may indicate that someone has breast cancer include are:

  • Breast lumps
  • Swelling or thickening of the breast
  • Swelling of the lymph nodes
  • Itching, redness, and scaling
  • Nipple discharge

(American Association of Retired Persons, 2022)

Who is at high risk for breast cancer?

People who meet any of the following criteria may have a high risk of getting breast cancer:

  • Drinking alcohol
  • Old age
  • Having a family history of breast cancer
  • Obesity

(WHO, 2023)

What percentage of breast biopsies are cancer?

Mammograms are exams that provide an X-ray image of the breast, and they can check if the patient has breast cancer. They can be used as regular screening exams and are useful for early detection of cancer. If the healthcare provider is concerned about the result, they may perform a biopsy, in which they take a tissue sample and test it in a laboratory.

Researchers estimate that 20% of these biopsies lead to breast cancer diagnosis. (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2016)

What are the statistics on beating breast cancer?

Breast cancer has a 5-year survival rate of 99% if it has not spread to other organs. It is reduced to 86% if the cancer affects the surrounding tissue. (Office on Women’s Health, 2022)

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