Fast Breast Cancer Facts: USA

• In 2003, it was estimated that 211,300 new cases of female invasive breast cancer would be diagnosed.
• In 2003, it was estimated that 55,700 cases of female non invasive cancer would be diagnosed.
• Breast cancer was expected to account for 32 percent of all new cancer cases among women in 2003 and a new case will be diagnosed every two and a half minutes.
• This year, 39,800 women are expected to die of breast cancer.
• Breast cancer is the leading overall cause of cancer death in women between the ages of 20 and 59.
• A woman will die from breast cancer every 13 minutes.
• Over 1 million women in the United States have died of this disease since 1970.

Source: National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations

Fast Cancer Facts: Canada

Current Incidence and Death: This year there will be an estimated 145,500 new cases of cancer and 68,300 deaths from cancer

The most common cancers continue to be breast cancer for women and prostate cancer for men.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women.

Probability of developing or dying from cancer: On the basis of current incidence rates, during their lifetimes, 38 percent of Canadian women and 43 percent of men will develop cancer.

On the basis of current death rates: 23 percent of women and 28 percent of men will die of cancer.

Age and sex distribution of cancer : among men, 75 percent of new cancer cases and 82 percent of deaths, due to cancer occur among those who are at least 60 years old. Among women, 63 percent of new cases and 78 percent of cancer deaths occur among those who are at least 60 years old.

Source: The Canadian Cancer Society Media Release