Prevalence and Incidence of Breast Cancer

Incidence (annual) of Breast Cancer:

205,000 annual cases (SEER 2002 estimate); 180,000 annual cases (NCI); only about 1,000 men

Incidence Rate:

approx 1 in 1,326 or 0.08% or 205,000 people in USA [about data]

Incidence extrapolations for USA for Breast Cancer:

204,999 per year, 17,083 per month, 3,942 per week, 561 per day, 23 per hour, 0 per minute, 0 per second.

Undiagnosed prevalence of Breast Cancer:

estimated 1 million

Undiagnosed prevalence rate:

approx 1 in 272 or 0.37% or 1 million people in USA [about data]

Lifetime risk for Breast Cancer:

1 in 8 women lifetime risk in USA (NWHIC); 1 in 11 women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime in Australia 2000 (AIHW and AACR, AIHW National Mortality Database, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)

Prevalence/Incidence of Breast Cancer: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the prevalence and/or incidence of Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

The cause of breast cancer isn't known, but its high incidence in women implicates estrogen.

Certain predisposing factors are clear; women at high risk include those who have a family history of breast cancer, particularly first-degree relatives (mother, sister, and maternal aunt).

Other women at high risk include those who:

❑have long menstrual cycles or began menses early (before age 12) or menopause late (after age 55)

❑have taken hormonal contraceptives

❑used hormone replacement therapy for more than 5 years

❑who took diethylstilbestrol to prevent miscarriage

❑have never been pregnant

❑were first pregnant after age 30

❑have had unilateral breast cancer

❑have had ovarian cancer — particularly at a young age

❑were exposed to low-level ionizing radiation.

Recently, scientists have discovered the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Mutations in these genes are thought to be responsible for less than 10% of breast cancers. However, these discoveries have made genetic predisposition testing an option for women at high risk for breast cancer.

Women at lower risk include those who:

❑were pregnant before age 20

❑have had multiple pregnancies

❑are Native American or Asian.

Most breast cancer deaths occur in women age 50 and older (84% of cases), and 77% of new breast cancer cases occur in this age-group. However, it may develop any time after puberty. It occurs in men, but rarely; male cases of breast cancer account for less than 1% of all cases.

The 5-year survival rate for localized breast cancer has improved because of earlier diagnosis and the variety of treatments now available. According to the most recent data, mortality rates continue to decline in White women and, for the first time, are also declining in younger Black women. Lymph node involvement is the most valuable prognostic predictor. With adjuvant therapy, 70% to 75% of women with negative nodes will survive 10 years or more compared with 20% to 25% of women with positive nodes.

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Malignant spinal neoplasms: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Primary tumors of the spinal cord may be extramedullary (occurring outside the spinal cord) or intramedullary (occurring within the cord itself). Extramedullary tumors may be intradural (meningiomas and schwannomas), which account for 60% of all primary malignant spinal cord neoplasms, or extradural (metastatic tumors from breasts, lungs, prostate, leukemia, or lymphomas), which account for 25% of these malignant neoplasms.

Intramedullary tumors, or gliomas (astrocytomas or ependymomas), are comparatively rare, accounting for only about 10%. In children, they're low-grade astrocytomas.

Spinal cord tumors are rare compared with intracranial tumors (ratio of 1:4). They occur equally in men and women, with the exception of meningiomas, which occur mostly in women. Spinal cord tumors can occur anywhere along the length of the cord or its roots.

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Mastitis and breast engorgement: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Mastitis develops when a pathogen that typically originates in the nursing infant’s nose or pharynx invades breast tissue through a fissured or cracked nipple and disrupts normal lactation. The most common pathogen of this type is Staphylococcus aureus; less frequently, it’s S. epidermidis or beta-hemolytic streptococci. Rarely, mastitis may result from disseminated tuberculosis or the mumps virus. Predisposing factors include a fissure or abrasion on the nipple; blocked milk ducts; and an incomplete let-down reflex, usually due to emotional trauma. Blocked milk ducts can result from a tight bra or prolonged intervals between breast-feedings. Causes of breast engorgement include venous and lymphatic stasis, and alveolar milk accumulation. (See Physiology of lactation, page 982.)

Mastitis occurs postpartum in about 1% of pregnant women, mainly in primiparas who are breast-feeding. It occurs occasionally in nonlactating females and rarely in males. All breast-feeding mothers develop some degree of engorgement, which isn’t an infectious process.

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Prevelance of Breast Cancer discussion:

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer (other than skin) in American women and the second major cause of death after lung cancer. One out of 8 women will develop breast cancer over the course of a lifetime. (Source: excerpt from Breast Cancer: NWHIC)

Incidence of Breast Cancer:

More than 180,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Breast Cancer: NCI)

Prevelance statistics for Breast Cancer:

The following statistics relate to the prevalence of Breast Cancer:

• 34,000 women in the UK 2001 (National Statistics - UK Government Census, 2001)
• 31% of cancer cases in women are breast cancer in the UK 2001 (National Statistics - UK Government Census, 2001)
• 1 in 8 women lifetime risk in USA (NWHIC)
• 1 in 11 women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime in Australia 2000 (AIHW and AACR, AIHW National Mortality Database, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)

Incidence statistics for Breast Cancer:

The following statistics relate to the incidence of Breast Cancer:

• 217,440 new cases for breast cancer in the US 2004 (Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society, 2004)
• 1,450 new male cases for breast cancer in the US 2004 (Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society, 2004)
• 215,990 new female cases for breast cancer in the US 2004 (Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society, 2004)
• Higher incidence rate than lung cancer in the US (Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society, 2004)
• 1 in 8 lifetime risk for women in the US (Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society, 2004)
• Estimated 203,500 new cases in women in the US 2002 (Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society, 2004)
• 110 cases per 100,000 women in the US (Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society, 2004)
• Breast cancer incidence statistics for racial subgroups:
  • 140.8 white women per 100,000 for breast cancer in the US 1996-2000 (SEER Cancer Statistics Review, National Cancer Institute, 1975-2000)
  • 121.7 African American women per 100,000 for breast cancer in the US 1996-2000 (SEER Cancer Statistics Review, National Cancer Institute, 1975-2000)
  • 97.2 Asian American and Pacific Islander women per 100,000 for breast cancer in the US 1996-2000 (SEER Cancer Statistics Review, National Cancer Institute, 1975-2000)
  • 58 American Indian and Alaska Native women per 100,000 for breast cancer in the US 1996-2000 (SEER Cancer Statistics Review, National Cancer Institute, 1975-2000)
  • 89.8 Hispanic Latino women per 100,000 for breast cancer in the US 1996-2000 (SEER Cancer Statistics Review, National Cancer Institute, 1975-2000)
• Breast cancer incidence statistics for women in various countries:
  • 89.5 women per 100,000 population with breast cancer in the US 1993-97 (Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, CCDP, Health Canada)
  • 81.3 women per 100,000 population with breast cancer in Denmark 1993-97 (Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, CCDP, Health Canada)
  • 78.5 women per 100,000 population with breast cancer in Canada 1993-97 (Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, CCDP, Health Canada)
  • 76.6 women per 100,000 population with breast cancer in Sweden 1993-97 (Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, CCDP, Health Canada)
  • 74.4 women per 100,000 population with breast cancer in the UK 1993-97 (Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, CCDP, Health Canada)
  • 53.7 women per 100,000 population with breast cancer in Poland 1993-97 (Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, CCDP, Health Canada)
  • 52.9 women per 100,000 population with breast cancer in the Czech Republic 1993-97 (Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, CCDP, Health Canada)
  • 43.5 women per 100,000 population with breast cancer in Singapore 1993-97 (Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, CCDP, Health Canada)
  • 37.3 women per 100,000 population with breast cancer in Colombia 1993-97 (Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, CCDP, Health Canada)
  • 36.2 women per 100,000 population with breast cancer in China 1993-97 (Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, CCDP, Health Canada)
  • 28.9 women per 100,000 population with breast cancer in India 1993-97 (Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, CCDP, Health Canada)
  • 28.0 women per 100,000 population with breast cancer in Japan 1993-97 (Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, CCDP, Health Canada)
  • 64.7 new cases per 100,000 population in Argentina 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 72.7 new cases per 100,000 population in the Bahamas 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 79.5 new cases per 100,000 population in Barbados 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • New cases per 100,000 population in 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 36.6 new cases per 100,000 population in Belize 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 26.6 new cases per 100,000 population in Bolivia 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 46.3 new cases per 100,000 population in Brazil 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • New cases per 100,000 population in 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 81.8 new cases per 100,000 population in Canada 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 38 new cases per 100,000 population in Chile 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 33 new cases per 100,000 population in Colombia 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 28.3 new cases per 100,000 population in Costa Rica 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 34.3 new cases per 100,000 population in Cuba 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 24.6 new cases per 100,000 population in the Dominican Republic 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 24 new cases per 100,000 population in Ecuador 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 12.9 new cases per 100,000 population in El Salvador 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 36.6 new cases per 100,000 population in Guatemala 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 34.2 new cases per 100,000 population in Guyana 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 4.7 new cases per 100,000 population in Haiti 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 36.6 new cases per 100,000 population in Jamaica 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 38.4 new cases per 100,000 population in Martinique 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 23.1 new cases per 100,000 population in Mexico 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 23.1 new cases per 100,000 population in Nicaragua 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 37.9 new cases per 100,000 population in Panama 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 29 new cases per 100,000 population in Paraguay 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 30.3 new cases per 100,000 population in Peru 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 46.3 new cases per 100,000 population in Puerto Rico 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 29.7 new cases per 100,000 population in Suriname 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 64.5 new cases per 100,000 population in Trinidad and Tobago 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 91.4 new cases per 100,000 population in the US 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 80 new cases per 100,000 population in Uruguay 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
  • 36 new cases per 100,000 population in Venezuela 2000 (Regional Core Health Data Initiative, Pan American Health Organisation, 2003)
• Breast cancer is the most often diagnosed cancer for women in Canada 2004 (Canadian Cancer Statistics, National Cancer Institute of Canada, 2004)
• 21,200 new cases of breast cancer in women in Canada 2004 (Canadian Cancer Statistics, National Cancer Institute of Canada, 2004)
• 106 per 100,000 new cases of breast cancer in women in Canada 2004 (Canadian Cancer Statistics, National Cancer Institute of Canada, 2004)
• 301 new female cases of breast cancer per 100,000 population aged 20-74 in Australia 2000 (Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• Incidence statistics by state in Australia:
  • 110.9 new female cases of breast cancer occurred per 100,000 population in New South Wales 2000 (AIHW & AACR 2003, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
  • 114.5 new female cases of breast cancer occurred per 100,000 population in Victoria 2000 (AIHW & AACR 2003, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
  • 113.6 new female cases of breast cancer occurred per 100,000 population in Queensland 2000 (AIHW & AACR 2003, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
  • 111.5 new female cases of breast cancer occurred per 100,000 population in Western Australia 2000 (AIHW & AACR 2003, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
  • 115.4 new female cases of breast cancer occurred per 100,000 population in South Australia 2000 (AIHW & AACR 2003, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
  • 101.2 new female cases of breast cancer occurred per 100,000 population in Tasmania 2000 (AIHW & AACR 2003, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
  • 118 new female cases of breast cancer occurred per 100,000 population in Australian Capital Territory 2000 (AIHW & AACR 2003, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
  • 93.1 new female cases of breast cancer occurred per 100,000 population in Northern Territory 2000 (AIHW & AACR 2003, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• Incidence statistics for various countries:
  • 78.5 new female cases of breast cancer per 100,000 population in Canada 1993-97 (Parkin et al 2002, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
  • 74.4 new female cases of breast cancer per 100,000 population in UK, England 1993-97 (Parkin et al 2002, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
  • 74.7 new female cases of breast cancer per 100,000 population in Italy, Venetian Region 1993-96 (Parkin et al 2002, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
  • 27.9 new female cases of breast cancer per 100,000 population in Japan, Osaka Prefecture 1993-97 (Parkin et al 2002, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
  • 85.6 new female cases of breast cancer per 100,000 population in The Netherlands 1993-97 (Parkin et al 2002, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
  • 75.8 new female cases of breast cancer per 100,000 population in New Zealand 1993-97 (Parkin et al 2002, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
  • 83.1 new black female cases of breast cancer per 100,000 population in the USA 1993-97 (Parkin et al 2002, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
  • 92.1 new white female cases of breast cancer per 100,000 population in the USA 1993-97 (Parkin et al 2002, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 11,314 new cases of breast cancer occurred in women in Australia 2000 (AIHW and AACR, AIHW National Mortality Database, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• Breast cancer accounted for 28.8% of all new cases of female cancer in Australia 2000 (AIHW and AACR, AIHW National Mortality Database, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• Breast cancer accounted for 115.3 new female cases per 100,000 population in Australia 2000 (AIHW and AACR, AIHW National Mortality Database, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)

About prevalence and incidence statistics:

The term 'prevalence' of Breast Cancer usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Breast Cancer at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Breast Cancer refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Breast Cancer diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.