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Facts

Breast Cancer Facts

 

  • Breast cancer attacks more women worldwide today than any other type of cancer, excluding cancers of the skin. Breast cancer  accounts for one of every three cancer diagnosis in women throughout the world.
  • One in every eight women in the United States, or about 12.6% of all women will get breast cancer in her lifetime.
  • The lifetime risk of breast cancer has tripled in the United States over the past 50 years.
  • Breast cancer occurs in men and is increasing at an alarming rate. The causes for breast cancer in men are unknown.
  • Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women aged 35-44. Research shows that delayed diagnosis and     more aggressive tumors result in higher mortality rates in young women.
  • Incidence and death rate of breast cancer increases with age and every woman is at risk. Women in the U.S. aged 50 years and     older accounted for 70% of all new breast cancer cases and 84% of breast cancer deaths from 1994-1998.
  • Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in every ethnic group in the United States.
  • Native American women have overall lower cancer survival rates than the Anglo population.
  • African-American women have the highest death rate from breast cancer.
  • Among Latinos, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death.
  • Women immigrants to the United States from Asia experience an 80% increase in their breast cancer risk in one generation.
  • One generation later, the rate for their daughters approaches that of women born in the United States.
  • Over 80% of breast lumps are not cancerous, but benign such as fibrocystic breast disease.
  • When cancer has been confined to the breast area, more than 95% of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer-free after five years.