Figures A summary of breast cancer facts and breast cancer mortality related information. All women are at risk of breast cancer. 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. This rate has more than doubled in the past 30 years.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women.
Breast cancer is the leading killer of women ages 35 to 54. Breast cancer in women under 50 is more aggressive and virulent. Despite modern technology, breast cancer mortality has not been significantly reduced in more than 40 years. Large numbers of women are without screening tests until a palpable lesion is felt. The majority of breast cancers revealed by mammography are not detected early enough.