How Many People Survive Breast Cancer
- Almost nine in ten of women survive breast cancer for five years or more.
- Breast cancer survival is improving and has doubled in the past 40 years in the UK due to a combination of improvements in treatment and care, earlier detection through screening and a focus on targets, including faster diagnosis.
- An estimated 600,000 people are alive in the UK after a diagnosis of breast cancer. This is predicted to rise to 1.2 million in 2030.
For many the overwhelming emotional and physical effects of the disease can be long-lasting.
Every year around 11,500women and 85 men die from breast cancer in the UK thats nearly 1,000 deaths each month, 31 each day or one every 45 minutes.
Breast cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in the UK.
Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women under 50 in the UK.
Breast Cancer Survivor Shares Scary Symptom That Led To Diagnosis At 22 Years Old: It Was Awful
A 26-year-old breast cancer survivor is reminding young people that its never too early to get checked in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Lindsey Finkelstein, a blogger and small business owner from Montreal, was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma one of the most common forms of breast cancer on Oct. 7, 2016, when she had just turned 22.
In January 2016, just ten months prior to the life-changing diagnosis, Finkelstein recalled that she began experiencing pain in her right breast and felt a little bit of a lump.
I really didnt think anything of it, she told In The Know. I touched it once, maybe twice, and then I kind of forgot about it.
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A post shared by Lindsey Hope on Mar 1, 2018 at 4:52pm PST
A few months later in August, Finkelstein, who was entering her fourth year at McGill University at the time, says she began waking up with what she thought were nosebleed stains streaked across her sheets. Only weeks later did she realize that the stains were actually the result of nipple discharge, one of the more common symptoms of breast cancer.
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your physician ASAP.
Example Of Breast Cancer Risk Going Down
Suppose you had early breast cancer and underwent lumpectomy . The absolute risk of a recurrence of the breast cancer within 10 years is about 35%. But if you have radiation therapy to the remaining breast tissue, you can reduce that risk by about 46%, according to a study that reviewed 17 clinical trials of radiation therapy after lumpectomy. To describe this relative risk decrease, your doctor might say:
- Compared to women who have lumpectomy alone, you have a 46% lower risk of developing breast cancer within 10 years if you have radiation therapy after lumpectomy.
Medical researchers might express it this way:
- Compared to women who do not have radiation therapy, your relative risk of developing breast cancer is .54 . Again, the number 1 is assigned to the baseline group, which is not taking the extra action to decrease the risk. The .46 is subtracted from 1 because it represents a decrease in risk. In other words, you have about half, or 54%, of the risk of developing breast cancer again in the same breast as they do within 10 years.
So in this scenario, what difference does radiation therapy really make for you in terms of reducing the absolute risk of cancer recurrence in the same breast? To know that, you have to multiply the 10-year risk of recurrence without radiation by the relative risk of .54:
- .5 means that your risk decreases by half, or 50%
- 1.88 means that your risk increases by 88%
- 3.0 means that your risk triples, or goes up by 300%
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Breast Cancer Statistics In Young Adults
Although breast cancer in young adults is rare, more than 250,000 living in the United States today were diagnosed under age 40. In young adults, breast cancer tends to be diagnosed in its later stages. It also tends to be more aggressive. Young adults have a higher mortality rate. As well as a higher risk of metastatic recurrence .
Interactive Statistics With Seer*explorer
With SEER*Explorer, you can…
- Create custom graphs and tables
SEER*Explorer is an interactive website that provides easy access to a wide range of SEER cancer statistics. It provides detailed statistics for a cancer site by gender, race, calendar year, age, and for a selected number of cancer sites, by stage and histology.
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How Common Is It
Breast cancer isnt common in women under 40.
A womans risk of breast cancer throughout her 30s is just 1 in 227, or about 0.4 percent. By age 40 to 50, the risk is roughly 1 in 68, or about 1.5 percent. From age 60 to 70, the chance increases to 1 in 28, or 3.6 percent.
Out of all types of cancer, though, breast cancer is the most common among U.S. women. A womans risk of developing breast cancer during her lifetime is about 12 percent.
Metastatic Breast Cancer Statistics
The number of women under 40 being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer is increasing.
Metastatic breast cancer means that the cancer has advanced to stage 4 and has moved beyond the breast tissue into other areas of the body, such as the bones or the brain. Survival rates are lower for cancer that has metastasized to other parts of the body.
According to the American Cancer Society , the 5-year survival rate for those with breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body is 27 percent for women of all ages. However, one found no significant differences in median survival rate between younger and older women with metastatic breast cancer.
Another
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Good News About Breast Cancer Trends
In recent years, perhaps coinciding with the decline in prescriptive hormone replacement therapy after menopause, we have seen a gradual reduction in female breast cancer incidence rates among women aged 50 and older. Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1990, in part due to better screening and early detection, increased awareness, and continually improving treatment options.
Types Of Breast Biopsies
There are different kinds of breast biopsies. Some are done using a hollow needle, and some use an incision . Each has pros and cons. The type you have depends on a number of things, like:
- How suspicious the breast change looks
- How big it is
- Where it is in the breast
- If there is more than one
- Any other medical problems you might have
- Your personal preferences
For most suspicious areas in the breast, a needle biopsy can be done. Ask the doctor which type of biopsy you will have and what you can expect during and after the procedure.
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How The Test Will Feel
When the numbing medicine is injected, it may sting a bit.
During the procedure, you may feel slight discomfort or light pressure.
Lying on your stomach for up to 1 hour may be uncomfortable. Using cushions or pillows may help. Some people are given a pill to help relax them before the procedure.
After the test, the breast may be sore and tender for several days. Follow instructions on what activities you can do, how to care for your breast, and what medicines you can take for pain.
Being told that your mammogram is abnormal can be terrifying, but theres no need to panic. Of all women who get regular mammograms, only about 0.5% will be found to have breast cancer.
So if you are summoned back to the doctors office for further testing after a mammogram, your chances of being diagnosed with cancer are low.
What Is A 5
A relative survival rate compares women with the same type and stage of breast cancer to women in the overall population.For example, if the 5-year relative survival rate for a specific stage of breast cancer is 90%, it means that women who have that cancer are, on average, about 90% as likely as women who dont have that cancer to live for at least 5 years after being diagnosed.
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Take Action To Change Young Adult Breast Cancer Statistics
When all young adults affected by breast cancer work together, we can raise awareness, improve our representation in research and make each other stronger. We are dedicated to these goals, working to turn our unique challenges into opportunities for shared success. Join the movement! Become an advocate for young women with breast cancer.
Brca1 And Brca2 Genetic Mutations
Most inherited cases of breast cancer are associated with mutations in two genes: BRCA1 and BRCA2 .
Everyone has BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The function of the BRCA genes is to repair cell damage and keep breast, ovarian, and other cells growing normally. But when these genes contain mutations that are passed from generation to generation, the genes don’t function normally and breast, ovarian, and other cancer risk increases. BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations may account for up to 10% of all breast cancers, or 1 out of every 10 cases.
Having a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation doesn’t mean you will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Researchers are learning that other mutations in pieces of chromosomes called SNPs may be linked to higher breast cancer risk in women with a BRCA1 mutation as well as women who didn’t inherit a breast cancer gene mutation.
Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer and have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation often have a family history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and other cancers. Still, most people who develop breast cancer did not inherit a genetic mutation linked to breast cancer and have no family history of the disease.
You are substantially more likely to have a genetic mutation linked to breast cancer if:
If one family member has a genetic mutation linked to breast cancer, it does not mean that all family members will have it.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Breast Cancer In Men
The most common symptoms of breast cancer in men include:
-
Breast lump or swelling
-
Nipple that turns inward
-
Fluid leaking from the nipple discharge, that may be bloody
-
A pain or pulling sensation in the breast
-
Skin or nipple changes such as dimpling, puckering, redness, or scaling
Many of these symptoms may be caused by other health problems. Its important to see a healthcare provider if you have these symptoms. Only a healthcare provider can tell if you have cancer.
What Happens After A Breast Biopsy
After a breast biopsy, the tissue sample is sent to the lab for a pathologist to evaluate under a microscope. They will look for cancer cells, infection, and any other explanation for the cause of the abnormal area.
The results, or pathology report, can take several business days to return. Your healthcare provider will either call you with the biopsy results or have you return for an office visit to review the findings. From there, a treatment plan can be made, which may include either a referral to an oncology team if it is cancer or a follow-up plan with more frequent screening.
Sometimes no definitive plan is needed, especially if the tissue is a calcification, cyst, or other benign finding.
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What Are The Risk Factors
Some women are at an increased risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer in their 20s or 30s. These risk factors include:
- having a close family member who was diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50
- having a close male blood relative with breast cancer
- having a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
- having received radiation treatment to the chest or breast before age 30
Other risk factors that apply to women of any age include:
- having a high percentage of breast tissue that appears dense on a mammogram
- having had a previous abnormal breast biopsy
- having had your first menstrual period before age 12
- having your first full-term pregnancy after age 30
- never having a full-term pregnancy
- being physically inactive or overweight
- being of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage
- drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
Can Exercise Help Reduce My Risk Of Developing Breast Cancer
Exercise is a big part of a healthy lifestyle. It can also be a useful way to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer in your postmenopausal years. Women often gain weight and body fat during menopause. People with higher amounts of body fat can be at a higher risk of breast cancer. However, by reducing your body fat through exercise, you may be able to lower your risk of developing breast cancer.
The general recommendation for regular exercise is about 150 minutes each week. This would mean that you work out for about 30 minutes, five days each week. However, doubling the amount of weekly exercise to 300 minutes can greatly benefit postmenopausal women. The longer duration of exercise allows for you to burn more fat and improve your heart and lung function.
The type of exercise you do can vary the main goal is get your heart rate up as you exercise. Its recommended that your heart rate is raised about 65 to 75% of your maximum heart rate during exercise. You can figure out your maximum heart rate by subtracting your current age from 220. If you are 65, for example, your maximum heart rate is 155.
Aerobic exercise is a great way to improve your heart and lung function, as well as burn fat. Some aerobic exercises you can try include:
- Walking.
- Dancing.
- Hiking.
Remember, there are many benefits to working more exercise into your weekly routine. Some benefits of aerobic exercise can include:
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How The Research Was Conducted
The report specifically focuses on:
- female breast cancer survivors who are living with a diagnosis of cancer, including those who have recovered from the disease
- the link between diet, weight, physical activity and the likelihood of female breast cancer survivors dying from breast cancer, second primary breast cancer , or any other disease.
Breast cancer survivors are defined in the report as women who have received a diagnosis of breast cancer from the point of diagnosis, through and after treatment.
For the report, the global scientific research on diet, nutrition, physical activity and female breast cancer survivors was gathered and analysed, and then independently assessed by a panel of leading international scientists in order to draw conclusions about surviving breast cancer and reducing the risk of a second primary breast cancer.
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Why Do I Need An Ultrasound After A Mammogram
One of the main reasons your doctor may recommend an ultrasound after a mammogram is if you have dense breast tissue. Dense breast tissue isnt abnormal however, it can make it more difficult for a mammogram to detect cancer cells that may be hidden in the tissue.
An ultrasound can help provide a better diagnose after an abnormal mammogram because:
- A mammogram uses regular X-ray technology. Fatty tissue shows up as gray and dense tissue shows up as white. A cancerous tumor, however, also shows up as white.
- A breast ultrasound uses sound waves that bounce off tissue, with different tissues making different echo patterns. These patterns are studied to detect whether there are any cancer cells or abnormal tissue.
- While a mammogram shows a full picture of the breast and where the dense tissue is located, an ultrasound focuses on that dense tissue and shows what is inside it. It can therefore indicate whether there is a suspicious mass that needs to be confirmed through needle biopsy.
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Where Do These Numbers Come From
The American Cancer Society relies on information from the SEER* database, maintained by the National Cancer Institute , to provide survival statistics for different types of cancer.
The SEER database tracks 5-year relative survival rates for breast cancer in the United States, based on how far the cancer has spread. The SEER database, however, does not group cancers by AJCC TNM stages . Instead, it groups cancers into localized, regional, and distant stages:
- Localized: There is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the breast.
- Regional: The cancer has spread outside the breast to nearby structures or lymph nodes.
- Distant: The cancer has spread to distant parts of the body such as the lungs, liver or bones.
Incidence Rates And The Number Of New Cases
To know whether or not breast cancer rates are changing over time, you have to compare rates, rather than the number of new cases.
For example, lets compare the number of new cases of breast cancer in U.S. in 2009 to the number of new cases in 2016. In 2009, there were an estimated 192,370 new cases of breast cancer in U.S. women . In 2016, there were an estimated 246,660 new cases .
Although more breast cancer cases occurred in 2016 than in 2009, this doesnt mean the rate of breast cancer increased over this time period.
We expect the number of cases to increase over time because the population of the U.S. increases over time . The more people there are, the more cancers there will be.
Our population is also living longer . Since age increases the risk of breast cancer, we expect to have more breast cancers over time.
To know if breast cancer rates are changing over time, we look at incidence rates, rather than the number of new cases. The incidence rate shows the number of breast cancer cases in a set population size. Its usually written as the number of cases in a population of 100,000 people.
The breast cancer incidence rate among women in 2009 was 131 and the estimated breast cancer incidence rate in 2016 was also 131 . This means there were 131 breast cancer cases per 100,000 women in the U.S. population in both time periods.
So, although the number of breast cancer cases increased over time, breast cancer rates were fairly stable.
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