1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. In 2023, an estimated 297,790 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Chances are, you know at least one person who has been personally affected by breast cancer.
But there is hope. When caught in its earliest, localized stages, the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%. Advances in early detection and treatment methods have significantly increased breast cancer survival rates in recent years, and there are currently over 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.
Awareness of the facts and statistics surrounding breast cancer in the United States is key in empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health.
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What Is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. There are many different types of breast cancer that can affect both women and men.
To determine the extent of an individual’s breast cancer and if it has spread outside of the breast, the cancer is assigned a stage upon diagnosis. The early detection of breast cancer through annual mammography and other breast exams is the best defense against receiving a late-stage breast cancer diagnosis. Generally speaking, the earlier the cancer is detected, the greater the likelihood of a successful outcome.
Key Statistics & Facts About Breast Cancer In The United States
- In 2023, an estimated 297,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S., as well as 55,720 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.1
- There are currently over 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.1
- An estimated 43,700 U.S. women will die from breast cancer in 2023.1
- Risk of breast cancer recurrence depends on the type and staging of the initial breast cancer. Typically, the highest risk of recurrence is during the first few years after treatment and decreases over time.2
Breast cancer incidence in the United States
- 1 in 8 women, or approximately 13% of the female population in the U.S., will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.1
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers.1
- It is estimated that in 2023, approximately 30% of all new female cancer diagnoses will be breast cancer.1
- On average, every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.1
- Approximately 64% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage, before cancer has spread outside of the breast, when it is easiest to treat.3
- The 5-year relative survival rate for cancer diagnosed at the localized stage is 99%.1
- Approximately 15% of women diagnosed have a family history of breast cancer. Those with a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) with breast cancer are nearly twice as likely to develop breast cancer themselves.4
Breast cancer statistics by age
Though breast cancer in the United States occurs primarily in middle-aged and older women, age is not the only risk factor for a breast cancer diagnosis. Many risk factors beyond age may contribute to a breast cancer diagnosis, and sometimes there are no discernable risk factors at all.
- The average age of U.S. women diagnosed with breast cancer is 62 years old.1
- Half of U.S. women who develop breast cancer are 62 years of age or younger when they are diagnosed.1
- About 9% of all new breast cancer cases in the U.S. are diagnosed in women younger than 45 years old.5
- Younger people, particularly those under age 35 at the time of their original breast cancer diagnosis, face a higher risk of breast cancer recurrence.6