North Carolina Triangle Race for the Cure . Facts about Breast Cancer Breast cancer is the leading cause of death, from all causes, of women between the ages of 35 and 54. Breast cancer is a devastating and deadly disease that has struck nearly 2 million American women in the past decade. One in 8 women will suffer from the disease in her lifetime.
All women are at risk for developing breast cancer, and one's risk increases with advancing age.
Seventy-five percent of all breast cancers occur in women with no known risk factors. This year 1,600 men will develop breast cancer, and about 400 will die. According to the most recent data, mortality rates continue to decline in Caucasian women and for the first time, are also declining in younger African American women ages 30-69. This decrease may be due to earlier detection and improved treatment. There is no known cure for advanced breast cancer.