Updated Female Breast Cancer Statistics in the United States.

[Hazelgreen]

Published in Oncology News · October 05, 2022

TUESDAY, Oct. 4, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The incidence rates of breast cancer have increased slowly and breast cancer mortality rates have declined in recent years, with a persistent racial disparity in breast cancer mortality, according to a report published online Oct. 3 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

Angela N. Giaquinto, M.S.P.H., from the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, and colleagues updated female breast cancer statistics in the United States.

The authors note that the incidence rates of breast cancer have increased in most of the past four decades. The rate increased by 0.5 percent annually during 2010 to 2019, mainly driven by localized-stage and hormone receptor-positive disease. However, there has been a steady decline in breast cancer mortality rates since their peak in 1989, although the pace has slowed in recent years (1.3 percent annually from 2011 to 2020 compared with 1.9 percent annually from 2002 to 2011). The death rate dropped by 43 percent during 1989 to 2020, resulting in 460,000 fewer breast cancer deaths. For women of all racial/ethnic groups except American Indians/Alaska Natives, the death rate declined similarly. The racial disparity in breast cancer mortality persisted, despite a lower incidence rate in Black versus White women (127.8 versus 133.7 per 100,000); the death rate was 40 percent higher in Black women overall and twofold higher in adult women younger than 50 years. For every molecular subtype and stage of disease, except stage I, Black women had the lowest five-year relative survival of any racial/ethnic group.

"The slow decline in breast cancer mortality during the most recent period partly reflects stagnant screening uptake and suboptimal receipt of timely and high-quality treatment," a coauthor said in a statement.

[TammyCross]

Good stats.

Certainly can relate to insufficient screening and "suboptimal receipt of timely and high-quality treatment." I had a very hard time convincing my docs that something was really wrong and I needed to get tested. It had to progress until I couldn't breathe, couldn't walk, before they ordered a scan. I had a 10 cm tumor in my chest.

And then there are individual stories, consistent or inconsistent with the stats. Every once in a while, I read that some well-known woman, sometimes someone I knew, has died of mbc. There was one of those this week. A star professional basketball player, Tiffany Jackson, died at 37 of cancer. I had to look further. She had original bc 7 years ago, so I infer mbc. She was black and pre-menopausal, so at higher risk on both counts. I think being Black and at higher risk is because of less screening, lack of medical attention. however.

[BritSammy]

depressing but not surprising stats for increased mortality for Black women!

[8576]

Thanks for posting the report. Can it be that there is a correlation between the new cases and those surviving?

Cheers, June S.

[jersey-jazz in reply to 8576]

What are you implying by the question you pose?

[8576 in reply to jersey-jazz]

Nothing at all! Just saw this now. I was just wondering. But I guess the answer would be subject to time. Anyhow nothing implied.

Cheers, June S.

[Hazelgreen in reply to 8576]

I think it would be interesting, June, to know whether new cases are benefitting more from the CDK4/6 treatments now widely available.

[jersey-jazz]

This is the second attempt to send a thank you to you for your continued postings from the medical journals. Thank you! It is important that we know as much as we can. We know that knowledge is power.

[Hazelgreen in reply to jersey-jazz]

Thanks for your thanks, Frances! I fully agree that "knowledge is power"!

[Guitarbella]

Thank you posting this, I agree knowledge is power.

[8576]

I also agree that knowledge is power. The problem is sifting the information.

Cheers, June S.