Breast Cancer Realities in America in 2009

Seer Stats fact sheet estimates that 192,370 womengreatest drop was between 1995 and 1998 when
will be diagnosed with breast cancer during 2009 andfears between HRT and breast cancer made a large
of those 40,170 women will die of cancer in thenumber of women about the wisdom of HRT.
same year. The median age for women being89.1% reached the magical 5-year relative survival
diagnosed was 61 years of age, and none wererate between 1999-2005, which means that 10.9%
under the age of twenty; 1.9% were aged 20 anddid not make the five year breast cancer survival
34; 10.5% were diagnosed between 35 and 44. Fromlandmark. 90.3% of white women got to the five
the ago of forty five the incidence rose sharplyyear breast cancer survival stage and only 77.9% of
22.5% were between 45 and 54; 23.7% were agedblack women. However that is not necessarily an
between 55 and 64. After 65 and between 74 theindication of genetics or ethnicity but could reflect the
incidence dropped again to 19.6%, 16.2% were agedwomen who could afford the best treatment.
between 75 and 84; and finally 5.5% 85+ years of60% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed while the
age. Just because their were only five and a halfcancer is still confined to the primary site (localized
percent diagnosed at over 85 merely indicates thatstage); a third or 33% are diagnosed after the
there were less women in that age group living.cancer has spread to regional lymph nodes or directly
The incidence was higher in white women as 123.8beyond the primary site; 5% are diagnosed after the
per 100,000 women were diagnosed with breastcancer has already metastasized (distant stage) and
cancer, blacks were diagnosed at 117.7 per 100,000for the remaining 2% the information was unknown.
women, the Polynesians less still as 89.5 per 100,000The corresponding 5-year relative survival rates were:
women , Hispanics had 88.3 per 100,000 women And98.3% for localized; 83.5% for regional; 23.3% for
native American Indian/Alaska Native had the leastdistant; and 57.7% for unstaged.
number affected. 74.4 per 100,000 womenIf one estimates the 2004 -2006 figures it means
From 2002-2006, the median age at death in Americathat 1 in eight women will be diagnosed as having
for cancer of the breast was 68 years of age,breast cancer at some point in their lives. On January
though 1.0% between 20 and 34; 6.2% between 351, 2006, there were approximately 2,533,193 women
and 44; 15.1% between 45 and 54; 20.3% betweenalive who had a history of breast cancer. This figure
55 and 64; 19.8% between 65 and 74; 22.8%comprises those that have active and those that
between 75 and 84; and 14.9% 85+ years of age.were in remission.
The age-adjusted death rate was 24.5 per 100,000In conclusion one in eight get cancer and two thirds
women per year. These rates are based on patientsof these are in the primary stages. Nearly ninety
who died in 2002-2006 in the US.percent will celebrate the five year boundary. In
In terms of trends the highest deaths occurred in thegeneral these figures are less bleak than they would
eighties when the mortality rate increased overall byfirst appear and there are definite grounds for
four percent between 1980 and 1987, when the useoptimism if you have been diagnosed with breast
of HRT in creased dramatically. Trend wise thecancer this year.