Breast Cancer: Rates of New Cases and Deaths
Mammograms are the best method to detect breast cancer early. If you are a woman aged 40 years or older, be sure to have a screening mammogram every one to two years.
Not counting some kinds of skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States. Breast cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer among Hispanic women, and the second most common cause of death from cancer among white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.
In the United States in 2005 (the most recent year for which statistics are available), 186,467 women were told they had breast cancer, and 41,116 women died from it.
The graph shows how many women out of 100,000 got breast cancer in 2005; this is called the incidence rate.* The graph also shows how many women out of 100,000 died from breast cancer in 2005; this is called the death rate.* The breast cancer incidence and death rates are grouped by race and ethnicity.
For example, white women had the highest incidence rate for breast cancer. Black women had the second highest incidence rate, followed by Hispanic,† Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women. On the other hand, black women had the highest death rate for breast cancer, followed by white, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic,† and Asian/Pacific Islander women.
Reducing Risk
A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms are the best method to detect breast cancer early when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Having regular mammograms can lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. If you are age 40 years or older, be sure to have a screening mammogram every one to two years. The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program offers free or low-cost mammograms. To find out if you qualify, call your local program.
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