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OVER 20,000
AUSTRALIANS
WILL BE DIAGNOSED
THIS YEAR

Breast Cancer Stats

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Breast Cancer stats in Australia

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer amongst women in Australia. Approximately 57 Australians are diagnosed each and every day. That equates to over 20,000 Australians diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

1 in 7 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

About 1 in 500 men are diagnosed in their lifetime.

Around 1000 young women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, equivalent to about 3 young women each day.

In 2023, over 3,200 Australian will pass away from breast cancer (including 30-40 males). Approximately one woman under the age of 40 is expected to die each week from breast cancer.

That’s 9 Australians a day dying from the disease.

In the last 10 years, breast cancer diagnosis have increased by 21%.

Since the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) started funding in 1994, the death rates from breast cancer in Australia have reduced by over 40% thanks in large part to research in prevention, early detection and new and improved breast cancer treatments.

We’ve come a long way. But there’s still progress to be made.

That’s why we’re committed to funding a broad spectrum of research to help understand risk factors, develop new ways to detect and treat breast cancer, improve quality of life for breast cancer patients, improve treatment outcomes and ultimately – save lives.

Our vision: Zero Deaths from breast cancer.

Donate today and help us change the stats

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Tarryn found a lump in her breast in 2020 when she was just 33 years old. The mum-of-two had an MRI which showed she had Invasive Ductal Carincinoma (IDC) grade 2 and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), as well as an enlarged node.  What followed was fast and intense treatment plan involving a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. She finished radiation in May 2021 and rang the bell loudly and proudly – relieved to have done everything she could be beat her cancer.  

Risk of breast cancer across different ages

Cancer data in Australia.

The risk of a woman being diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime is  1 in 7. The majority of breast cancer cases, about 80%, occur in women over the age of 50.

But breast cancer still occurs in young women, with close to 1000 women under the age of 40 projected to be diagnosed with the disease in 2022.

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Breast cancer survival rates, by stage and age

The relative 5-year survival rate for breast cancer is 92%. This means that those who have breast cancer are, on average, 92% as likely as those who don’t have the disease to live for at least 5 years after their diagnosis. The survival rate is an estimate across the population, and an individual’s chance of survival is dependent on their specific characteristics and the nature of the tumour, such as the stage of the breast cancer at diagnosis, the age, gender and the subtype of the breast cancer (ER+, HER2+ or triple negative breast cancer).

The 5-year survival rate for Stage 1 (early) breast cancer is, on average, 100% and Stage 2 is 95%. For locally advanced cancers (known as Stage 3) the survival rate is 81%, while the 5-year survival rate for Stage 4 (metastatic breast cancer) is significantly lower at 32%.

The 5-year survival rate also differs depending on the age group. For those aged over 85, the 5-year survival rate is 75%, while for those between 40 and 44 years of age it is 93%.

While the 5-year survival rate post-diagnosis is 92%, the survival rate 10 years after diagnosis of breast cancer is 86%.

Source: AIHW Australian Cancer Database  

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“I am three years on from this photo. Everyday is another day I appreciate. Thank you to NBCF-funded researchers who are looking at ways to prevent, detect, monitor and treat breast cancer to ultimately continue to save lives. The five-year survival rate has increased from 76% to 92% – and I am one the survival statistics here today – thanks largely to research. However, my everyday full of medications, infusions and injections is a continual reminder that still, 9 Australians still die from breast cancer each day! Investing in research is the only way we can change the stats. And as we change this stat I would like to say thank you to keeping me going, keeping me hopeful….and keeping me alive.” Vivienne, diagnosed 2018

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Breast cancer diagnosis and survival rates over the last 27 years

The incidence of breast cancer (the number of new cases) has risen dramatically over the last 28 years, rising from about 9,827 new cases a year in 1994, to over 20,000 new cases a year in 2022. As a result, 1 in 7 women will now be diagnosed in their lifetime.

Since NBCF’s inception in 1994, the death rates from breast cancer in Australia have reduced by 43%. Despite this, 9 Australians will lose their lives to breast cancer every day. In 2022, there was over 3,200 deaths from breast cancer, including (30-40 males).

Unfortunately, despite improved survival rates, the number of deaths from breast cancer each year is still rising. This is being driven by the increase in diagnoses.

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Breast cancer cases in comparison to other commonly diagnosed cancers

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer amongst women in Australia, with over 20, 000 diagnoses this year. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer.

In 2022, breast cancer remains the second most common cause of death from cancer in females.

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People living with breast cancer

There are nearly a quarter of a million people living with breast cancer, who were diagnosed in the last 36 years in Australia. 

Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia and the most common cancer among females. Approximately 57 Australians will be diagnosed with breast cancer every day. That equates to over 20,000 Australians diagnosed with breast cancer each year including around 200 men.

Most breast cancer cases, about 80%, occur in women over the age of 50.