Breast cancer no longer the death sentence it once was

Breast cancer is no longer necessarily terminal if it is caught early. Preventive procedures such as self-exams and mammograms are critical to catch and treat it early thereby making it no longer as deadly as it was a mere 20 years ago.

After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.

Twenty years ago, the American Cancer Society (ACS) reported about 178,480 women in the United States would be diagnosed with an invasive breast cancer in 2007. About 40,500 women died from the disease the same year. As of early 2022, there were an estimated 3.97 million to 4.1 million women living with a history of breast cancer in the United States, a figure which includes those currently in treatment and those who have completed treatment.

According to the ACS 2026 projections, approximately 321,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the United States. During the same year, it is estimated that 42,140 women will die from the disease. Additionally, 60,730 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) are expected to be diagnosed.

Although breast cancer death rates are going down, the chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer at some time during her life is about one in eight. Her chance of dying from breast cancer is now about one in 33 and in decline, likely the result of advances in prevention, treatment and earlier detection.

Early detection is still the key to fighting breast cancer. Annual mammograms continue to be strongly recommended for women 40 and older, while women in their 20s and 30s are encouraged to have a clinical breast exam as part of their normal checkups every three years. In addition, all women older than 20 are strongly encouraged to perform breast self-exams and report abnormalities to their doctors immediately upon discovery.

Unfortunately, the causes of breast cancer are still unknown, but all women should recognize the risk factors which may predispose them to the disease. In addition to a family history of breast cancer, any women who smoke, experienced menstrual periods at an early age or are obese may be at increased risk.

Scientists continue to work hard to learn more about breast cancer through studying diet and exercise regimens, hormone replacement therapy and post-treatment procedures.