Deaths from Breast Cancer (Metastatic Breast Cancer)
- All deaths from breast cancer result from the spread of breast cancer cells to other vital organs such as bones, lung, liver or brain-a process called metastasis. No one dies from breast cancer that is confined to the breast.
- 39, 510 US women and 410 men in 2012 for a total of 39,920 [ACS Cancer Facts 2012]
- Although breast cancer is often described as a “disease of aging”, 16% of the deaths occur in women under age 50. {ACS Cancer Facts 2012] It is the number one cause of cancer death in this age group.
- About half a million deaths worldwide annually [WHO]
- Approximately 40,000 per year for the last 20 years [ACS]
- 1 death every 13 minutes in the US [Komen website]
Mortality rates for Breast Cancer (Metastatic Breast Cancer)
Mortality rate for women is defined as the number of female deaths divided by the population at risk
Mortality rate trends:
Down by 2.2% annually between 1990-2007, “attributable to both improvements in BC treatment and early detection.” [ACS Breast Cancer Facts & Figures, 2011-2012]
