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Breast Cancer Facts
© 2007 Dr. Len Kliman 
Breast cancer is the major cause of cancer death in Australian women accounting for more than 11,700 new case of breast cancer and 2600 deaths each year. Early detection is the best method for reducing deaths from breast cancer.
Women whose cancer is still contained in the breast when diagnosed have a 90% chance of surviving five years, compared with a 20% five year survival chance when the cancer has spread at diagnosis.
Fast facts
• Breast cancer is still the most common cancer amongst Australian women after non-melanoma skin cancer.
• One in 11 women will be diagnosed with the disease by the age of 75.
• In 2002 a total of 12,027 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia. It is projected that there will be 14,818 diagnosed in 2011.
• A total of 2641 women died from breast cancer in 2004 making it the most common cause of cancer related death in women.
• Despite the substantial loss of life, prospects for survival are better than ever. Currently in Australia, over 96.7% of women diagnosed with breast cancer will survive for at least one year and 86.6% will survive for five years or longer.
• From 1994 to 2003, the breast cancer death rates declined by an average of 2% per year. Survival is improving due to better and earlier detection and improved treatment resulting from excellent research.
• Breast cancer survivors often encounter problems ranging from physical limitations to psychosocial difficulties following diagnosis and treatment. Researchers have begun to systematically study the recovery pathways experienced by women.
• As with most cancers, the risk from breast cancer increases with age. 25% of new breast cancers diagnosed in 1999 were among women aged 20-49; 48% among women aged 50-69; and 27% among women 70+. The average age of first diagnosis was 60 years for a woman in 2002.
• It is recommended that women of all ages are aware of how their breasts normally look and feel and report any new or unusual changes promptly to their doctor.
• In the 2001 National Health Survey, 12.2% of women aged 50-59 years, 11.2% of those aged 60-69 and 27% of those 70 years+ reported that they had never had a mammogram.
• Over 70% of breast cancer cases are found in women aged 50 years and older. In younger women, tumours are likely to be larger and more aggressive, resulting in a lower rate of survival than for older women.
Source: Breast Cancer in Australia: An Overview, 2006
National Breast Cancer Foundation
