“Cancer [...] takes a village. Even with an early diagnosis and good prognosis, there are many emotions and many appointments. Community support [...] not only helps someone diagnosed with cancer, but it also helps their caretakers.” — Dr. Anjali Malik, MD (Zeta Omicron-Johns Hopkins)
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women and the second leading cause of death related to cancer in the United States, accounting for
breast cancer themselves.
However, despite these odds, there are currently more than 4 million breast cancer survivors living in the U.S. This includes women still being treated and those who have completed treatment. Moreover, the 5-year relative survival rate in the U.S. for all types and stages of breast cancer combined is 91%, and the 5-year relative survival rate in the U.S. of localized (early stage) breast cancer is 99%. Breast cancer death rates have slowly decreased since 1989, for an overall decline of 43% through 2020. This is in part due to better screening and early detection efforts, increased awareness and continually improving treatment options. Women who receive regular screenings for breast cancer have a 26% lower breast cancer death rate than women who do not receive screenings. “[It’s critical that women] know their family history of all cancers, assess their lifetime risk for the development of breast cancer with their doctor — preferably before the age of 30 — know their breast density once they begin screening mammograms, assess if they need genetic testing and minimize their modifiable risk [which includes] diet, exercise, alcohol consumption and smoking,” implored Dr. Anjali Malik, MD (Zeta Omicron-Johns Hopkins) , a board-certified, fellowship-trained breast imaging radiologist located in Washington D.C. who focuses on patient education and empowerment. “And start early!” Most doctors like Anjali strive to detect breast cancer at the earliest stage when it’s at its smallest size, which is why they encourage women to receive annual mammograms starting at the age of 40 for those who are at average risk of developing breast cancer.
approximately 30% — or 1 in 3 – of all new cancers among women each year.
Overall, the average risk of a woman in the United States
developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13%. This means there is a one in eight chance she will develop breast cancer. On average, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 2 minutes in the United States.1 (The statistics are comparable for Canadian women.) It’s important to note that all humans are born with breast cells and tissue, including men. And although it’s rare, men get breast cancer too. In 2024, an estimated 2,800 men were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the United States, and an estimated 530 American men will die from breast cancer in 2024. The lifetime risk of a U.S. man developing breast cancer is approximately one in 726.2 Additionally, roughly 15% of women diagnosed have a family history of breast cancer. Those with a first- degree relative (mother, sister or daughter) with breast cancer are nearly twice as likely to develop
In other words, early detection is key.
1 American Cancer Society (cancer.org)
2 American Cancer Society (cancer.org)
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