Breast cancer: The facts

Breast cancer at a glance

October has arrived, and with it the annual month of awareness and survivorship celebration: Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women, with one woman diagnosed every two minutes in the United States. In 2020, it’s projected that more than 325,000 women (and men) will be diagnosed with a form of breast cancer.

And in the face of that grim statistic, breast cancer survivor rates are increasing – in the United States today, there are more than 3.5 million breast cancer survivors living their lives.

Breast cancer at a glance:

• 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

• Breast cancer will make up 30 percent of all new cancer cases in women in the United States in 2020.

• 64 percent of cases are diagnosed at a localized stage, meaning that the cancer has not spread.

• 2,620 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020.

• Breast cancer will unfortunately claim an estimated 42,170 lives in 2020.

• The average five-year survival rate is 99 percent.

• The average 10-year survival rate is 84 percent.

• In the United States today, there are more than 3.5 million breast cancer survivors.

• In the years to come, the number of cancer survivors will continue to climb.