Think Pinker

We spend a lot of time talking about breast cancer and new research that’s come about but I thought now would be a good time to just share some of the most recent breast cancer stats with you. According to the American Cancer Society

·         Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed (excluding skin cancer which is #1) among U.S. women, accounting for more than 1 in 4 cancers.

·         After lung cancer, breast cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer death in women.

·         1 out of 8 American women who live to be 85 years of age will develop breast cancer. In 1960 that same risk was 1 out of 14.

·         2.4 million women living in the U.S. have been diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer.

·         An estimated 182,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in American women during 2008

·         About 1,990 new cases of breast cancer are expected in men

·         In addition, an estimated 67,770 cases of in situ breast cancer (both DCIS and LCIS) are expected, with 85 percent being DCIS.

·         An estimated 40,930 breast cancer deaths are anticipated this year (only 450 will be men)

·         The greatest risk factor for developing breast cancer is gender (female) and the second is age.

·         During 2000-2004, 95% of new cases occurred in women aged 40 and older.

·         During 2000-2004 97% of breast cancer deaths occurred in women aged 40 and older.

·         It has been estimated that 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases result from inherited mutations or alterations in BRCA1 and BRCA2.

·         Other risk factors include

o        Inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes

o        Family history of breast cancer

o        High breast tissue density

o        High-dose radiation to the chest wall

o        Long menstrual history

o        Never having given birth

o        Giving birth for the first time after age 30

o        Biopsy-confirmed atypical hyperplasia.

·         After decreasing 16% from 2006 to 2007, the estimated number of new cases of female invasive breast cancer is expected to increase slightly in 2008 to 182,460, up from 178,480.

·         The estimated number of new breast cancer cases in men is expected to continue to decline slightly, with 1,990 new cases in 2008, down from 2,030 in 2007.

·         Female breast cancer incidence rates continuously increased for two decades, but have leveled off since 2001.