| It is estimated, that every three minutes a woman in | | | | This cancer is the most common cancer among |
| the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer. | | | | women. |
| This cancer is the leading cancer among white and | | | | In 2008, an estimated 22,400 women will be |
| African American women. This cancer incidence in | | | | diagnosed with this cancer and 5,300 will die of it. |
| women has increased from one in 20 in 1960 to one | | | | An estimated 170 men will be diagnosed with this |
| in eight today. | | | | cancer and 50 will die of it. |
| While the majority of cancer occurs in older people, | | | | On average, 431 women will be diagnosed with this |
| young people are not immune to this disease. This | | | | cancer every week. |
| cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths | | | | On average, 102 women will die of this cancer every |
| in women today (after lung cancer) and is the most | | | | week. |
| common cancer among women, excluding | | | | One in 9 women is expected to develop this cancer |
| non-melanoma skin cancers. | | | | during her lifetime. One in 28 will die of it. |
| According to the American Cancer Society, about 1.3 | | | | Breast cancer death rates have declined in all ages |
| million women will be diagnosed with this cancer | | | | combined and in every age group since at least the |
| annually worldwide and about 465,000 will die from | | | | mid 1990s. |
| the disease. Breast cancer death rates have been | | | | Incidence and death rates for this cancer have |
| dropping steadily since 1990, according to the | | | | declined since 1969 in women aged 20-39. |
| Society, because of earlier detection and better | | | | While this cancer is less common at a young age (i.e., |
| treatments. | | | | in their thirties), younger women tend to have more |
| However, about 40,910 breast cancer deaths are | | | | aggressive cancers than older women, which may |
| expected in 2008. According to the American Cancer | | | | explain why survival rates are lower among younger |
| Society, in general, this cancer rates have risen about | | | | women. |
| 30% in the past 25 years in western countries, due in | | | | All women are at risk for developing this cancer. The |
| part to increased screening which detects the cancer | | | | older a woman is, the greater her chances of |
| in earlier stages. In the United States, though, this | | | | developing this cancer. Approximately 77% of this |
| cancer rates decreased by 10% between 2000-2004, | | | | cancer cases occur in women over 50 years of age. |
| due in part to a reduction in the use of hormone | | | | White, Hawaiian, and African-American women have |
| replacement therapy. Although this cancer rates are | | | | the highest incidence of invasive cancer in the United |
| rising in many western countries, deaths from the | | | | States (approximately four times higher than the |
| disease have decreased in some countries as a result | | | | lowest group). |
| of improved screening and treatment. | | | | Korean, American Indian, and Vietnamese women |
| So when looking at individual statistics by age group, | | | | have the lowest incidence of invasive ancer in the |
| the probability of developing breast cancer within the | | | | United States. |
| next 10 years are as follows: | | | | African-American have the highest death rate from |
| By age 20... 1 out of 229 | | | | this cancer and are more likely to be diagnosed with |
| By age 30... 1 out of 68 | | | | a later stage of breast cancer than White women. |
| By age 40... 1 out of 37 | | | | In the age groups, 30-54 and 55-69 years, |
| By age 50... 1 out of 26 | | | | African-American women have the highest death |
| By age 60... 1 out of 24 | | | | rate from this cancer, followed by Hawaiian women, |
| By age 70... 1 out of 8 | | | | and white non-Hispanic women. However, in the 70 |
| Plus, in someone's lifetime, 1 out of every 1985 | | | | year old age group, the death rate from this cancer |
| women will develop this cancer. This risk model is of | | | | for white women is higher than for African-American. |
| course based on population averages. Each woman's | | | | Pay particular attention to the statistics on Korean, |
| cancer risk may be higher or lower, depending upon a | | | | American Indian, and Vietnamese women which have |
| several factors, including family history, genetics, age | | | | the lowest incidence of invasive breast cancer in the |
| of menstruation, and other factors that have not yet | | | | United States. Why do you think that is? If you've |
| been identified. | | | | been paying attention to my other articles, you'll soon |
| Here are some more gloomy facts on breast cancer | | | | come to realize that this is because of their lifestyles, |
| statistics... | | | | and more specifically their low-fat diets. |