Breast Cancer: The Facts

Fast Facts

•  A woman has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime.
• Every 3 minutes, there is a new diagnosis of invasive breast cancer.
• Approximately 230,480 women and 2,140 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.
• Every 13 minutes, a life is lost to breast cancer.
• 39,520 women and 450 men in the U.S. will die from the disease annually.
• The National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately 2.6 million U.S. women with a history of breast cancer are living today, more than half of whom were diagnosed less than 10 years earlier. Most of these individuals were cancer-free, while others still had evidence of cancer and may still be undergoing treatment.
• There are more than 250,000 women under the age of 40 in the U.S. living with breast cancer, and over 11,000 will be diagnosed this year.
• White, non-Hispanic women are more likely to develop breast cancer but African-American women are more likely to die from it.
• Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Hispanic women.

 Remember, Early Detection Helps Save Lives

•  Be sure you and your loved ones follow the recommended guidelines from the American Cancer Society for early detection of breast cancer. If there is a history of breast cancer in your family consult your doctor on the need to begin these steps at an earlier age.
• Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care providers.
• Yearly mammograms with a clinical breast exam are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as woman is in good health.
• Clinical breast exam (CBE) should be part of a periodic health exam, about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s.
• Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.
• Women at high risk (greater than 20% lifetime risk) should get an MRI and a mammogram every year.
• Yearly MRI screening is not recommended for women of average risk of breast cancer.

Men Get Breast Cancer, Too

• Survival for men with breast cancer is similar to survival for women, when their stage of diagnosis is the same.
• Men at any age may develop breast cancer, but it is usually found in men between 60 and 70 years of age.
• Male breast cancer makes up less than 1% of all cases of breast cancer.
• Male breast cancer is sometimes caused by inherited gene mutations, and a family history of breast cancer can increase a man’s risk.