Breast Cancer Statistics and Trends
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, excluding skin cancers, accounting for about 30% of new female cancers annually. According to the American Cancer Society's estimates for 2024:
- Approximately 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed.
- Around 56,500 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) will be diagnosed.
- About 42,250 women will die from breast cancer.
Breast cancer predominantly affects middle-aged and older women, with the median diagnosis age at 62. A very small number of women under 45 are diagnosed. The lifetime risk for a woman in the U.S. developing breast cancer is about 13% (1 in 8).
Trends and Survival Rates
Incidence rates have been increasing by 0.6% per year, with a slightly higher rise of 1.0% in women under 50. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, with a 1 in 40 (2.5%) chance of mortality. Since 1989, death rates have decreased by 42%, due to better screening, increased awareness, and improved treatments, though this decline has slowed recently.
Racial and Ethnic Differences
- Median diagnosis age is younger for Black women (60 years) compared to White women (64 years).
- Black women have the highest death rate from breast cancer, partly due to a higher risk of triple-negative breast cancer.
- At all ages, Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer than any other group.
- White, Asian, and Pacific Islander women are more likely to be diagnosed with localized breast cancer than Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Alaska Native women.
- Asian and Pacific Islander women have the lowest death rate from breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Survivors
Currently, there are millions of breast cancer survivors, including those still undergoing treatment and those who have completed it. Detailed survival rates can be found in the American Cancer Society's resources.
Additional Resources
For more information, visit the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Statistics Center. Key topics include Risk and Prevention, Early Detection and Diagnosis, Treatment, Breast Reconstruction Surgery, and Living as a Breast Cancer Survivor.
References
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team, composed of doctors, oncology certified nurses, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing. Last revised: January 17, 2024. For reprint requests, please see the American Cancer Society’s Content Usage Policy.