Breast cancer in the United States Stats

February 5, 2013 Updated Feb 5, 2013 at 9:38 AM PDT

Breast cancer in the United States

 

Women  

In 2013, it is estimated that among U.S. women there will be:

• 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer (includes new cases of primary breast cancer among survivors, but not recurrence of original breast cancer among survivors).
• 64,640 new cases of in situ breast cancer (includes ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), of those, about 85 percent will be DCIS). DCIS is a non-invasive breast cancer and LCIS is a condition that increases the risk of invasive breast cancer. Learn more about DCIS and LCIS.
• 39,620 breast cancer deaths.  

Rates of breast cancer among women vary by:

• Age
   
• Race/ethnicity  
  • African American  
  • Ashkenazi Jewish  
  • Asian American and Pacific Islander  
  • Hispanic/Latina  
  • American Indian and Alaskan Native
     
•  Specific populations 

• Lesbian, gay and bisexual women  
• Transgender people  
• Pregnant women

 

Men  

Breast cancer in men is rare, but it does happen. In 2013, it is estimated that among U.S. men there will be :

•  2,240 new cases of breast cancer.  
•  

•  410 breast cancer deaths. 

Rates of breast cancer incidence (new cases, including new cases of primary breast cancer among survivors, but not recurrence of original breast cancer among survivors) and mortality (death) are much lower among men than among women . For example, in 2009 (most recent data available)

Survival rates for men are about the same as for women with the same stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis. However, men are usually diagnosed at a later stage because they are less likely to report symptoms. Learn more about the symptoms of male breast cancer.

Treatment for men is the same as treatment for women and usually includes a combination of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and/or targeted therapy. Learn more about treatment for male breast cancer.  

 

Time trends of breast cancer rates in the U.S.

 

Rates of breast cancer over time  

From the 1940s until the 1980s, the rate of new cases of breast cancer (called incidence) in the U.S. increased by a little over one percent a year. In the 1980s, incidence rose dramatically (likely due to increased mammography screening), then leveled off during the 1990s.

The incidence of breast cancer declined in the early 2000s . Although mammography screening rates fell somewhat over this same time period, studies show these changes were not likely related to the decline in breast cancer rates . The decline appears to be related to the drop in use of menopausal hormone therapy (postmenopausal hormone use) that occurred after the Women's Health Initiative study showed its use increased risk of breast cancer and heart disease

Since 2005, the incidence of breast cancer has remained stable 

 

Mammography and rates of early detection over time  

As mammography screening rates have increased, more cases of breast cancer have been found at earlier stages, when they are most easily and successfully treated. During the 1980s and 1990s, diagnoses of early-stage breast cancer, including ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and conditions such as lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) increased greatly. Since the late 1990s, these rates have increased slightly. At the same time, diagnoses of advanced stage (metastatic) breast cancer have remained stable or dropped slightly

 

Race/ethnicity and breast cancer rates over time 

Since 1975, the incidence of breast cancer has increased among both white women and black women (since 2003, incidence has remained stable). However, during this same time period, mortality rates have decreased for white women, but increased somewhat for black women .