Breast Cancer Epidemiology

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer diagnosed and the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality among women in the United States (lung cancer is first):
- The American Cancer Society estimated that in 2016, approximately 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed and nearly 40,450 breast cancer related deaths will occur.
- Estimated new cases and deaths from breast cancer (women only) in the United States in 2018:
  - New cases:
    - 268,670
  - Deaths from breast cancer:
    - 41,400
- Breast cancer is the most common non-cutaneous cancer in U.S. women:
  - With an estimated 63,960 cases of in situ disease in 2018.
  - 266,120 cases of invasive disease in 2018:
    - Thus, fewer than one of six women diagnosed with breast cancer die of the disease:
      - By comparison, it is estimated that about 70,500 American women will die of lung cancer in 2018.3. Men account for 1% of breast cancer cases and breast cancer deaths.
- Currently, the lifetime risk of breast cancer among women is 1 in 8 or 12% compared to 1 in 11 for women in the 1970s:
  - This increase in risk over the past four decades is attributed to:
    - Longer life expectancy
    - Changes in reproductive patterns
    - Hormone use
    - The rising prevalence of obesity
    - As well as increased detection through screening mammography
- Although the incidence of breast cancer has risen:
  - Breast cancer mortality has decreased:
    - Breast cancer death rates have decreased 36% from 1989 to 2012, after slowly increasing (0.4% per year) since 1975:
      - This likely reflects the increased use of screening mammography beginning in the early 1980s leading to detection of earlier stage disease, as well as continued improvements in systemic adjuvant therapy.
Breast cancer incidence rates are highest in non-Hispanic white women, followed by African American women and are lowest among Asian/Pacific Islander women:
- Contrastingly, breast cancer death rates are highest for African American women, followed by non-Hispanic white women, and are lowest for Asian/Pacific Islander women:
  - Furthermore, the difference in long-term breast cancer mortality by race/ethnicity persists and is increasing with breast cancer death rates 42% higher in African American than Caucasian women in 2012:
    - This disparity reflects a combination of factors, including differences in stage at diagnosis, obesity, comorbidities, tumor characteristics, screening, access, adherence, and response to treatment.

Rodrigo Arrangoiz MS, MD, FACS a surgical oncologist and is a member of Sociedad Quirúrgica S.C at the America British Cowdray Medical Center in Mexico City:

He is an expert in the management of breast cancer.
- If you have any questions about breast cancer epidemiology please fill free to contact Dr. Arrangoiz.