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SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Breast Cancer
Statistics at a GlanceShow More
At a Glance
- Estimated New Cases in 2015 231,840
- % of All New Cancer Cases14.0%
- Estimated Deaths in 2015 40,290
- % of All
Cancer Deaths 6.8%
Percent Surviving
5 Years
Number of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The number of new cases of breast cancer was 124.8 per 100,000 women per year. The number of deaths was 21.9 per 100,000 women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2008-2012 cases and deaths.
Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer: Approximately 12.3 percent of women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during their lifetime, based on 2010-2012 data.
Prevalence of This Cancer: In 2012, there were an estimated 2,975,314 women living with breast cancer in the United States.
Survival StatisticsShow More
How Many People Survive 5 Years Or More after Being Diagnosed with Breast Cancer?
Relative survival
statistics compare the survival of patients diagnosed with cancer with the survival of people in the general population who are the same age, race, and sex and who have not been diagnosed with cancer. Because survival statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. No two patients are entirely alike, and treatment and responses to treatment can vary greatly.
Percent Surviving
5 Years
Based on data from SEER 18 2005-2011. Gray figures represent those who have died from breast cancer. Green figures represent those who have survived 5 years or more.
Additional Information
Survival by Stage
Cancer stage at diagnosis, which refers to extent of a cancer in the body, determines treatment options and has a strong influence on the length of survival. In general, if the cancer is found only in the part of the body where it started it is localized (sometimes referred to as stage 1). If it has spread to a different part of the body, the stage is regional or distant. The earlier breast cancer is caught, the better chance a person has of surviving five years after being diagnosed. For breast cancer, 61.1% are diagnosed at the local stage. The 5-year survival for localized breast cancer is 98.6%.
Localized (61%)
Confined to Primary Site
Regional (32%)
Spread to Regional Lymph Nodes
Distant (6%)
Cancer Has Metastasized
Unknown (2%)
Unstaged
SEER 18 2005-2011, All Races, Females by SEER Summary Stage 2000
Additional Information
Number of New Cases and DeathsShow More
How Common Is This Cancer?
Compared to other cancers, breast cancer is fairly common.
| Common Types of Cancer | Estimated New Cases 2015 |
Estimated Deaths 2015 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Breast Cancer (Female) | 231,840 | 40,290 |
| 2. | Lung and Bronchus Cancer | 221,200 | 158,040 |
| 3. | Prostate Cancer | 220,800 | 27,540 |
| 4. | Colon and Rectum Cancer | 132,700 | 49,700 |
| 5. | Bladder Cancer | 74,000 | 16,000 |
| 6. | Melanoma of the Skin | 73,870 | 9,940 |
| 7. | Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma | 71,850 | 19,790 |
| 8. | Thyroid Cancer | 62,450 | 1,950 |
| 9. | Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer | 61,560 | 14,080 |
| 10. | Endometrial Cancer | 54,870 | 10,170 |
Breast cancer represents 14.0% of all new cancer cases in the U.S.
14.0%
In 2015, it is estimated that there will be 231,840 new cases of breast cancer and an estimated 40,290 people will die of this disease.
Who Gets This Cancer?
Female breast cancer is most common in middle-aged and older women. Although rare, men can develop breast cancer as well. The number of new cases of breast cancer was 124.8 per 100,000 women per year based on 2008-2012 cases.
Breast cancer is most frequently diagnosed among women aged 55-64.
Median Age
At Diagnosis
SEER 18 2008-2012, All Races, Females
- Sex-Specific CancerAll Races
- White
- Black
- Asian /
Pacific Islander
- American Indian /
Alaska Native
- Hispanic
- Non-Hispanic
SEER 18 2008-2012, Age-Adjusted
Who Dies From This Cancer?
Overall, female breast cancer survival is good. However, women who are diagnosed at an advanced age may be more likely than younger women to die of the disease. Breast cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The number of deaths was 21.9 per 100,000 women per year based on 2008-2012.
The percent of breast cancer deaths is highest among women aged 55-64.
Median Age
At Death
U.S. 2008-2012, All Races, Females
- Sex-Specific CancerAll Races
- White
- Black
- Asian /
Pacific Islander
- American Indian /
Alaska Native
- Hispanic
- Non-Hispanic
U.S. 2008-2012, Age-Adjusted
Trends in RatesShow More
Changes Over Time
Keeping track of the number of new cases, deaths, and survival over time (trends) can help scientists understand whether progress is being made and where additional research is needed to address challenges, such as improving screening or finding better treatments.
Using statistical models for analysis, rates for new breast cancer cases have been stable over the last 10 years. Death rates have not changed significantly over 2002-2012. 5-year survival trends are shown below the figure.
| Year | 1975 | 1980 | 1985 | 1990 | 1995 | 1999 | 2003 | 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-Year Relative Survival | 75.2% | 74.8% | 78.4% | 84.6% | 86.8% | 89.6% | 89.7% | 91.0% |
SEER 9 Incidence & U.S. Mortality 1975-2012, All Races, Females. Rates are Age-Adjusted.
More About This CancerShow More
Cancer and the Female Breast
Figure: Breast and Adjacent Lymph Nodes
Click to enlarge.
Inside a woman's breast are 15 to 20 sections, or lobes. Each lobe is made of many smaller sections called lobules. Fibrous tissue and fat fill the spaces between the lobules and ducts (thin tubes that connect the lobes and nipples). Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast grow out of control and form a growth or tumor. Tumors may be cancerous (malignant) or not cancerous (benign).
Additional Information
More Information
Here are some resources for learning more about female breast cancer.
- About risk factors for breast cancer
- About breast cancer screening
- About symptoms and diagnosis of breast cancer
- About treatment options for breast cancer
- About clinical trials
- About breast cancer prevention
- About cancer prevention
References
All statistics in this report are based on statistics from SEER and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. Most can be found within:
Howlader N, Noone AM, Krapcho M, Garshell J, Miller D, Altekruse SF, Kosary CL, Yu M, Ruhl J, Tatalovich Z,Mariotto A, Lewis DR, Chen HS, Feuer EJ, Cronin KA (eds). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2012, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2012/, based on November 2014 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site, April 2015.
Suggested Citation
All material in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.
SEER Cancer Statistics Factsheets: Breast Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html
This factsheet focuses on population statistics that are based on the US population. Because these statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. To see tailored statistics, browse the SEER Cancer Statistics Review. To see statistics for a specific state, go to the State Cancer Profiles.
The statistics presented in this factsheet are based on the most recent data available, most of which can be found in the SEER Cancer Statistics Review. In some cases, different year spans may be used. Estimates for the current year are based on past data.
Cancer is a complex topic. There is a wide range of information available. This factsheet does not address causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, or decision making, although it provides links to information in many of these areas.
