• October 5, 2022

Breast Cancer Awareness Facts 2022

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women, after skin cancers. It’s also one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with 9 out of 10 deaths caused by invasive lobular carcinoma and 5 out of 10 due to ductal carcinoma.

Breast Cancer Awareness Facts and Statistics

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, and it can be anywhere from as simple as a lump to more complex. In fact, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women.

It’s also estimated that around one in eight American women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at some point in their lives. This means an estimated 266,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States alone!

Breast Cancer Facts Worldwide

685,000 people worldwide died in 2020 due to breast cancer, which affected 2.3 million women. The most common cancer globally as of the end of 2020 was breast cancer, which had been diagnosed in 7.8 million women in the previous five years.

Worldwide, breast cancer causes more lost disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for women than any other type of cancer. Every country globally experiences breast cancer in women after puberty at any age, albeit the incidence rates rise as people age. 

From the 1930s until the 1970s, there was no change in breast cancer mortality. In nations with early detection programs coupled with various forms of treatment to remove invasive diseases, improvements in survival started in the 1980s.

How Many Women Get Breast Cancer

More than 1 million new cases are being diagnosed each year. This makes it the second leading cause of death among women worldwide and ranks as one of the most deadly diseases in America.

Suppose you’re a woman over 50 years old. In that case, there’s a good chance that you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in your life—and even if not, chances are high that someone you love has had this devastating illness. In fact, 1 out of 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime.

Breast Cancer Statistics by Age

Breast cancer is more common in older women. It’s estimated that 1 out of 8 women will get breast cancer during their lifetime, but it can happen at any age. About 9% of all women diagnosed with breast cancer are under the age of 50, and 18% are between the ages of 50 and 74.

Breast cancer is less common in younger women. Still, it had become more common over time as more mammograms have been performed since the 1970s when screening began in this country. Between 1975 and 2001, there was an increase from 0–4 cases per 100,000 population to 6 cases per 100K.

The risk of developing breast cancer is higher in women who have the following:

• family history of breast cancer
• start menstruating at an early age (before age 12) and/or go through menopause after age 50
• are obese or overweight
• and are postmenopausal with no history of hormone replacement therapy.

Breast cancer can be detected at an early stage

Early detection is key to improving survival rates. If you have breast cancer, you must see your doctor as soon as possible so they can do a thorough exam and check for signs of the disease.

Early detection means treatment can begin sooner. It helps improve survival rates even more—and saves money in the long run by not having to treat metastatic disease (cancer that has spread beyond the breast).

After a mammogram, your doctor will do an ultrasound or MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging) to see if you have any breast lumps. You’ll also get questions about any symptoms you may have had over time so they can tell if something else besides the lump might be wrong there too.

Breast Cancer Awareness month

Breast cancer awareness month is a time to celebrate the lives of women who have overcome breast cancer. It’s also a time to recognize the importance of early detection and treatment for this disease.

The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is a time to talk about women’s health, raise awareness about breast cancer and how to prevent it.  Breast cancer is a serious issue, but we want to make sure that it doesn’t take over our lives. We know that detecting breast cancer early on is one of the best ways to reduce risk of getting it. This is why we need to raise awareness on how easy it is to get screened.

Every woman has a choice when it comes to her health no matter what stage of life she is in. Remember to check with your doctor regularly to stay informed about any changes in your body. 

Conclusion

We hope this information has been helpful, and we wish you the best of luck in your battle against breast cancer. With regular checkups and early detection, all women can survive breast cancer.

About Author

Naz Kleiman is a ANCC board-certified Nurse Practitioner with over 13 years of nursing experience in trauma nursing, primary care, women’s health, urgent care, workmen’s comp, allergy testing and family medicine. She graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Walden University with Master of Science in Nursing.