Incidence, Mortality, and Risk Factors
Breast cancer is a significant health problem in the United States. It is the fifth leading cause of death for women following heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (CDC 2013) Estimates for 2013 include the following (BreastCancer.org 2013):
Incidence: 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer
Mortality: 39,620 cases
Death rates from breast cancer have steadily decreased in women since 1990, with larger decreases in women younger than 50 (a decrease of 3.2% per year) than in those 50 and older (2% per year). (ACS 2013) The decrease in breast cancer death rates represents progress in both earlier detection and improved treatment. In general, however, African-American, Hispanic, American Indian, and Alaska Native women have benefitted less from detection and treatment improvements than have white women. (ACS 2013)