Breast cancer

Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer diagnosed in women worldwide, ranking second in both sexes combined (Figure 1.3). An estimated 1.38 million women across the world were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, accounting for nearly a quarter (23%) of all cancers diagnosed in women (11% of the total in men and women).1 Incidence is generally high in the developed countries and markedly lower in developing countries, though differences in population sizes mean that approximately equal numbers of cases were diagnosed in the developed and developing regions in 2008 (around 690,000 cases each).1,2

Breast cancer incidence has increased in most countries worldwide in the last decades, with the most rapid increases occurring in many of the developing countries.2 Reproductive behaviour and the use of exogenous hormones, as well as differences in weight, exercise, diet and alcohol consumption, are thought to underlie the differences.2-6 It has been estimated that breast cancer rates in developed countries could be half that of current rates if women had more children and breastfed for longer.7

Female breast cancer incidence rates vary nearly five-fold across the regions of the world. In 2008, rates ranged from around 20 per 100,000 in Eastern and Middle Africa to 90 per 100,000 in Western Europe (Figure 3.1).1 The countries with the highest incidence rates in 2008 were Belgium and Denmark (109 and 101 per 100,000, respectively). The incidence rate for UK women was high at 11th highest out of 184 countries worldwide.1

Figure 3.1: Breast Cancer (C50), World Age-Standardised Incidence and Mortality Rates, Females, Regions of the World, 2008 Estimates

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section updated 19/09/11

Breast cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer in women worldwide (ranking fifth in both sexes combined), estimated to be responsible for almost 460,000 deaths in 2008.1 There is less variation in female breast cancer mortality across the regions of the world, largely due to better survival in the (high incidence) developed countries, with rates ranging from 6 per 100,000 in Eastern Asia to 19 per 100,000 in Southern and Western Africa in 2008 (Figure 3.1).1,8 The UK was joint 30th highest out of 184 countries worldwide.1

section updated 19/09/11