In advance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, new statistics showing an increase in breast cancer diagnosis confirm that continued research into the disease is needed.
The latest statistics from the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare estimates that 20,428 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, compared to an estimated 19,866 women diagnosed in 2021.
According to the World Health Organisation, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, with around 2.3 million people diagnosed with the disease globally each year. In Australia and New Zealand (Aotearoa), it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women.
While more people are being diagnosed with breast cancer each year, thanks to improved screening techniques and treatments, less people are dying from the disease. Without clinical trials research, such as that conducted by Breast Cancer Trials, this wouldn’t be possible.
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Breast Cancer Statistics Australia
More than 20,640 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022. While the number of people being diagnosed is increasing, more people than ever are surviving their disease and clinical trials research has played a significant role in this improvement. Overall, the five-year survival rate for women diagnosed with breast cancer is 91.8%, and 86.5% for men.
Breast Cancer Trials’ research has led to preventions and treatments including life-saving drugs such as Tamoxifen and Herceptin, which have helped drive this survival rate improvement.
In Australia, it is estimated that 20,640 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that 20,428 women will receive a breast cancer diagnosis, as will 212 men.
This number has significantly increased since records began. In 1983, 5,316 women and 61 men were diagnosed with breast cancer. This increase is thought to be due to a number of reasons including reproductive and hormonal factors and improved screening and awareness.
Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older, with the average age of first diagnosis being 61 years of age.
Thanks to the Breast Screen Australia program, which invites women aged 50 to 74 to participate in free screening mammograms, it’s more likely breast cancer will be diagnosed at an early stage. This greatly increases a person’s chance of surviving their disease.
Breast Cancer Statistics New Zealand
The most common cancer diagnosed in women in New Zealand is breast cancer. The incidence of breast cancer has increased slightly over the past 20 years for both wāhine (female) Māori and non-Māori women, which researchers attribute to increased exposure and hormonal factors, as well as the expansion of the national breast screening program in 2004 to include women aged 45 – 69.
In New Zealand (Aotearoa), it’s estimated more than 3,500 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed this year. Of this, almost 500 will be wāhine (female) Māori and around 25 will be men.
Breast Cancer Survival Rate
Australia
In Australia, more people are surviving their breast cancer diagnosis than ever before. Thanks to the advancements made through clinical trials research, there are more tailored and advanced treatments,
preventions and screening techniques available.
However, for some people, their breast cancer will progress to an advanced or metastatic stage and this greatly reduces their chances of survival.
Your age and stage of disease has an impact on your chance of surviving five years past your breast cancer diagnosis. Those diagnosed with stage one breast cancer have an almost 100% chance of surviving five years post diagnosis, however, those diagnosed with stage four breast cancer, only have a 32% chance of surviving five years post diagnosis.
In 2022, it’s estimated that 3,214 people will die from breast cancer in Australia. From this 3,178 will be women and 36 will be men. The lifetime risk of dying from breast cancer for Australian women is 1 in 34. The lifetime risk of dying from breast cancer for Australian men is 1 in 2,897.
New Zealand
Breast cancer survival rates in New Zealand (Aotearoa) are improving. Most people diagnosed with breast cancer will now survive their disease. Although slightly lower than Australia’s survival rate, New Zealand’s (Aotearoa) rates are still positive with 89% of all women diagnosed with breast cancer surviving five years past their diagnosis. This has increased from 79% since 1999.
However, this rate doesn’t illustrate the reality for those with advanced or metastatic disease who, despite improved treatments can still die from the disease. It’s estimated that around 670 people will die from breast cancer this year in New Zealand (Aotearoa), around 75 of these will be wāhine (female) Māori.
However, an evaluation of the national screening program Breast Screen Aotearoa from 1999 to 2011 found that participation in the screening program reduced mortality from breast cancer in women overall by 34%. This benefit was slightly lower in wāhine (female) Māori at 28%, but researchers say this discrepancy is due to lower numbers of wāhine (female) Māori participating in the program.
Breast Cancer Risk
Australia
The lifetime risk of a woman being diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia is 1 in 7. For men it is one in 726. However, there are a number of ‘risk factors’ that can increase or decrease this risk.
A risk factor is something about a person, or what that person is exposed to, that increases their risk’’ of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. There are many different risk factors that can increase or decrease an individual’s personal risk of developing breast cancer. This includes genetic factors, such as an inherited genetic mutation like BRCA1 or BRCA2 or lifestyle factors such as alcohol, smoking, or lack of exercise. Although just because you have some risk factors does not mean you will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
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Learn more about breast cancer risk factors.
People can assess your risk factors and their impact on your cancer risk using the iPrevent tool.
New Zealand
In New Zealand (Aotearoa), the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer for women is 1 in 9.
It’s important women in New Zealand (Aotearoa) participate in regular breast screening every two years between the ages of 45 to 69 years. Participating in regular screening has been proven to reduce illness and death from breast cancer by detecting the disease early.
Source: Breast Cancer Trials
