Breast cancer

Abstract

In 2003, breast cancer was the most frequently diagnosed cancer (212,600 new cases), and the second leading cause of cancer death (40,200 deaths) in American women (Jemal A, Thomas A, Murray T, et al. Cancer Statistics, 2002. CA Cancer J Clin 2002;52:23-47). In women ages 40-55 years, breast cancer is the leading cause of mortality (Jemal A, Thomas A, Murray T, et al. Cancer Statistics, 2002. CA Cancer J Clin 2002;52:23-47). There has been a slight decline in breast cancer mortality overall (Jemal A, Thomas A, Murray T, et al. Cancer Statistics, 2002. CA Cancer J Clin 2002;52:23-47) that can be attributed both to the success of early detection and to advanced treatment, particularly systemic therapy. Caucasian women in the US have a 13.1% lifetime incidence of developing breast cancer, whereas African-American women have a 9.6% lifetime incidence (Jemal A, Thomas A, Murray T, et al. Cancer Statistics, 2002. CA Cancer J Clin 2002;52:23-47). However, the lifetime risk of dying from breast cancer is 3.4% for both African-American and Caucasian women in the U.S. While the incidence of invasive breast cancer has leveled off, the number of ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS) has been on the rise, probably a result of the increasing use of screening mammography.