Breast cancer accounts for nearly 298,000 new invasive cases each year in the United States along with roughly 43,700 deaths. Five-year relative survival stands at 91 percent overall yet ranges from 99 percent for localized tumors to 30 percent once the disease reaches distant sites. The data that follow break down incidence, subtypes, screening guidelines, and treatment results by stage and receptor status.
Key Takeaways
- In the United States, an estimated 297,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in 2023
- In the United States, an estimated 43,700 deaths from breast cancer were projected for 2023
- In the United States, the 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer is 91% (diagnosed 2014–2020)
- The most common type of breast cancer is invasive ductal carcinoma, accounting for 70% to 80% of cases
- Invasive lobular carcinoma accounts for 10% to 15% of invasive breast cancers
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) accounts for about 20% of new breast cancer diagnoses in the United States
- Screening mammography can detect breast cancer before symptoms
- The USPSTF recommends biennial screening mammography for women aged 40 to 74
- The USPSTF recommends screening mammography for women aged 40 to 74 with individual decision-making
- Tamoxifen is typically used for ER-positive breast cancer
- Aromatase inhibitors are used in postmenopausal patients with ER-positive breast cancer
- Trastuzumab is a targeted therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer
- The proportion of breast cancers that are ER-positive is about 70%
- The proportion of breast cancers that are PR-positive is a substantial fraction
- HER2-positive breast cancer accounts for about 15%–20% of cases
In the US, about 297,790 new breast cancer cases and 43,700 deaths are expected in 2023, with stage affecting survival.
Related reading
01 · Category
Incidence & Mortality30 stats
01
In the United States, an estimated 297,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in 2023
02
In the United States, an estimated 43,700 deaths from breast cancer were projected for 2023
03
In the United States, the 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer is 91% (diagnosed 2014–2020)
04
In the United States, the 5-year relative survival rate for localized breast cancer is 99%
05
In the United States, the 5-year relative survival rate for regional breast cancer is 86%
06
In the United States, the 5-year relative survival rate for distant breast cancer is 30%
07
In the United States, breast cancer is estimated to account for 30% of all new cancer cases in women
08
In the United States, breast cancer is estimated to account for 28% of new cancer cases among women
09
In the United States, an estimated 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer over the course of her lifetime
10
In the United States, an estimated 1 in 42 women will die of breast cancer
11
In the United States, breast cancer accounts for about 15% of all cancer deaths in women
12
The age-adjusted incidence rate of female breast cancer in the United States (all races) was 128.9 per 100,000 in 2020
13
The age-adjusted incidence rate of breast cancer in the United States (all races) was 131.8 per 100,000 in 2019
14
The age-adjusted incidence rate of breast cancer in the United States (all races) was 127.5 per 100,000 in 2021
15
The age-adjusted mortality rate of breast cancer in the United States (all races) was 23.1 per 100,000 in 2020
16
The age-adjusted mortality rate of breast cancer in the United States (all races) was 22.9 per 100,000 in 2019
17
The age-adjusted mortality rate of breast cancer in the United States (all races) was 22.4 per 100,000 in 2021
18
In the United States, about 63% of breast cancers are diagnosed at the localized stage
19
In the United States, about 30% of breast cancers are diagnosed at the regional stage
20
In the United States, about 6% of breast cancers are diagnosed at the distant stage
21
In the United States, about 1% of breast cancers are diagnosed at an unknown stage
22
In the United States, in 2023, an estimated 55,720 new cases of in situ breast cancer (DCIS) were expected
23
In the United States, in 2023, an estimated 4,640 deaths were expected from breast cancer
24
Breast cancer incidence rates in the United States are higher in Black women than in White women
25
In the United States, breast cancer death rates are higher for Black women than for White women
26
In the United States, breast cancer survival is higher for White women than for Black women
27
Globally, there were 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer in 2020
28
Globally, there were 685,000 deaths from breast cancer in 2020
29
In 2020, breast cancer had the highest number of new cancer cases among cancers
30
In 2020, breast cancer was the second-leading cause of cancer death worldwide
Interpretation
Incidence & Mortality Interpretation
In the United States, breast cancer is both alarmingly common, with nearly 298,000 new invasive cases and about 1 in 8 women diagnosed by lifetime, and also a genuine survival story, since overall 5 year relative survival is 91 percent and localized disease is 99 percent, yet it still takes about 43,700 projected lives in 2023 and, worst of all, distant stage survival plummets to 30 percent, while disparities persist and global numbers underline the scale of the problem, even as progress and declining death rates hint that better detection, treatment, and equity can keep turning the odds.
02 · Category
Risk, Genetics & Subtypes30 stats
01
The most common type of breast cancer is invasive ductal carcinoma, accounting for 70% to 80% of cases
02
Invasive lobular carcinoma accounts for 10% to 15% of invasive breast cancers
03
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) accounts for about 20% of new breast cancer diagnoses in the United States
04
Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for about 10% to 20% of all breast cancers
05
HER2-positive breast cancer accounts for about 15% to 20% of breast cancers
06
Hormone receptor–positive (ER-positive and/or PR-positive) breast cancer makes up about 70% of breast cancers
07
Luminal A breast cancer is the most common molecular subtype, accounting for 30% to 60% of cases
08
Luminal B breast cancer accounts for 10% to 20% of cases
09
HER2-enriched breast cancer accounts for about 10% to 15% of cases
10
Basal-like breast cancer overlaps with triple-negative breast cancer and is associated with higher relapse risk
11
BRCA1 mutations account for about 45% to 65% of hereditary breast cancers
12
BRCA2 mutations account for about 25% to 35% of hereditary breast cancers
13
About 5% to 10% of breast cancers are hereditary, often linked to gene mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2
14
Women with a BRCA1 mutation have about a 65% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer
15
Women with a BRCA2 mutation have about a 45% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer
16
Lifetime risk of breast cancer for women with both BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations is higher
17
A first-degree relative with breast cancer increases risk
18
Having a mother, sister, or daughter with breast cancer nearly doubles risk
19
Risk increases with age; the majority of breast cancers occur after age 50
20
The median age at diagnosis of breast cancer in the US is 62
21
Men account for about 1% of all breast cancer cases
22
Approximately 99% of breast cancer occurs in women
23
Having a first period before age 12 is a risk factor associated with increased breast cancer risk
24
Having menopause after age 55 is a risk factor for increased breast cancer risk
25
Not having children or having first child after age 30 increases risk
26
Breastfeeding for at least 6 months is associated with reduced breast cancer risk
27
Alcohol consumption increases risk; even 1 drink per day is associated with increased risk
28
Overweight and obesity after menopause increase breast cancer risk
29
Physical activity reduces risk of breast cancer
30
Women who took hormone therapy (combined estrogen and progestin) have increased breast cancer risk
Interpretation
Risk, Genetics & Subtypes Interpretation
Breast cancer statistics read like a plot twist: most cases are invasive ductal carcinoma and hormone receptor positive, but the biology, genetics, and life stage factors stack up in complicated ways, from triple negative and HER2 positive subtypes to BRCA1 and BRCA2 hereditary risks, with the strongest “quiet villains” being aging and reproductive and lifestyle factors like early periods, late menopause, fewer or later pregnancies, alcohol, excess weight after menopause, and lack of physical activity.
03 · Category
Screening & Diagnosis30 stats
01
Screening mammography can detect breast cancer before symptoms
02
The USPSTF recommends biennial screening mammography for women aged 40 to 74
03
The USPSTF recommends screening mammography for women aged 40 to 74 with individual decision-making
04
The USPSTF recommendation specifies biennial screening mammography (every 2 years) for average-risk women aged 40 to 74
05
For women at high risk, screening with MRI and mammography may be recommended annually
06
The American Cancer Society recommends that women at high risk get a breast MRI and a mammogram every year
07
The American Cancer Society recommends that average-risk women start annual mammograms at age 45
08
The American Cancer Society recommends annual mammograms at age 45 to 54
09
The American Cancer Society recommends mammograms every year or every 2 years at age 55 and older
10
Breast self-exam is not recommended as a screening test by USPSTF for all women
11
Clinical breast exam is not recommended as a screening test by USPSTF for average-risk women
12
For high-risk women, MRI screening is recommended in addition to mammography
13
Diagnostic mammography is used to evaluate abnormal screening mammogram results
14
Ultrasound can be used to evaluate lumps or abnormal mammogram findings
15
Breast MRI is used to evaluate some abnormal mammogram results and for high-risk screening
16
The sensitivity of mammography varies by age and breast density
17
In the US, about 50% of women have dense breast tissue
18
Dense breast tissue is associated with higher risk of breast cancer and reduced mammography sensitivity
19
Breast biopsy is required to confirm diagnosis of breast cancer
20
Core needle biopsy is often used to obtain tissue samples for diagnosis
21
Fine needle aspiration may be used in some cases to sample fluid or tissue
22
Sentinel lymph node biopsy is used to stage early breast cancer
23
Axillary lymph node dissection is used in some cases when more extensive nodal surgery is needed
24
PET/CT may be used to evaluate spread in some cases of breast cancer
25
Stage determines treatment and prognosis
26
TNM staging uses tumor size, lymph node involvement, and metastasis
27
Breast cancer can be staged from 0 to IV
28
Grade describes how abnormal the cancer cells look under a microscope
29
Tumor markers (ER, PR, HER2) help guide treatment decisions
30
ER-positive tumors have estrogen receptors on cancer cells
Interpretation
Screening & Diagnosis Interpretation
Breast cancer screening is basically the medical equivalent of catching a suspect before they make a scene, with major groups agreeing that many women aged 40 to 74 benefit from mammograms typically every one to two years, higher risk patients may need MRI as well, suspicious findings are confirmed with biopsy, and once cancer is diagnosed clinicians use staging, grade, receptor status like ER, PR, and HER2, and measures like Ki 67 to map the disease from stage 0 through IV and choose treatment from there, because in the end the cells and their behavior tell the plot.
More related reading
04 · Category
Treatment & Clinical Outcomes30 stats
01
Tamoxifen is typically used for ER-positive breast cancer
02
Aromatase inhibitors are used in postmenopausal patients with ER-positive breast cancer
03
Trastuzumab is a targeted therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer
04
Pertuzumab is used with trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer in some settings
05
CDK4/6 inhibitors (e.g., palbociclib, ribociclib, abemaciclib) are used in HR-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer
06
Everolimus is used with exemestane for certain HR-positive metastatic breast cancers
07
PARP inhibitors (e.g., olaparib) are used in some patients with germline BRCA-mutated HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer
08
Chemotherapy is used in many subtypes, including triple-negative breast cancer
09
Radiation therapy is used after breast-conserving surgery
10
Mastectomy is an option for breast cancer treatment in certain cases
11
Sentinel lymph node biopsy is often used to assess axillary nodes
12
Overall survival varies strongly by stage at diagnosis
13
In the US, 5-year relative survival for localized breast cancer is 99%
14
In the US, 5-year relative survival for regional breast cancer is 86%
15
In the US, 5-year relative survival for distant breast cancer is 30%
16
In the US, 5-year relative survival for all breast cancer is 91%
17
Neoadjuvant therapy is treatment given before surgery in some cases
18
Pathologic complete response (pCR) can predict improved outcomes in some cancers after neoadjuvant therapy
19
For HR-positive metastatic breast cancer, endocrine therapy is a primary treatment approach
20
For HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, anti-HER2 therapy is central
21
For triple-negative metastatic breast cancer, chemotherapy is often used
22
Immunotherapy (e.g., pembrolizumab) can be used for some PD-L1–positive advanced triple-negative breast cancer
23
Pembrolizumab is given with chemotherapy in PD-L1–positive advanced triple-negative breast cancer in the KEYNOTE-355 context
24
The median duration of response and survival vary by regimen and disease setting
25
For HER2-positive early breast cancer, dual HER2 blockade with trastuzumab plus pertuzumab may be used
26
For ER-positive early breast cancer, endocrine therapy can reduce recurrence risk
27
Prophylactic surgery is not standard for all patients, but risk-reducing mastectomy is considered for high-risk patients
28
Risk-reducing mastectomy can reduce breast cancer risk substantially in high-risk individuals
29
Reconstruction may be done after mastectomy
30
In general, breast reconstruction options include implants or autologous tissue
Interpretation
Treatment & Clinical Outcomes Interpretation
Breast cancer care today is a stage-based choose-your-own-adventure where tumor biology (ER, PR, HER2, and BRCA status) dictates whether you’re looking at endocrine drugs, anti-HER2 combos, targeted inhibitors, chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy, and while survival is excellent when caught localized (99% 5-year relative survival in the US) it drops sharply with distance (30% for distant disease), making early detection and right-timed treatment not just smart, but quietly life-defining.
05 · Category
Epidemiology, Risk Factors & Burden30 stats
01
The proportion of breast cancers that are ER-positive is about 70%
02
The proportion of breast cancers that are PR-positive is a substantial fraction
03
HER2-positive breast cancer accounts for about 15%–20% of cases
04
Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for 10%–20% of breast cancers
05
Breast cancer risk is higher in women with more breast tissue density
06
Approximately 50% of women have dense breasts
07
Dense breast tissue can increase the risk of breast cancer and lower mammography sensitivity
08
Alcohol consumption is a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer
09
Physical inactivity is associated with increased risk of breast cancer
10
Overweight and obesity increase breast cancer risk after menopause
11
Postmenopausal hormone therapy (combined estrogen and progestin) increases breast cancer risk
12
Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations are at increased risk of developing breast cancer
13
In the US, Black women have a higher breast cancer incidence rate than White women
14
In the US, Black women have a higher breast cancer death rate than White women
15
American Indian/Alaska Native women have a lower breast cancer incidence rate than White women
16
Asian/Pacific Islander women have lower breast cancer incidence rates than White women
17
Hispanic women have breast cancer mortality rates lower than non-Hispanic White women
18
Incidence rates have stabilized in recent years in the US for breast cancer overall
19
Death rates have been decreasing in the US
20
Breast cancer survival differs by race/ethnicity in the US
21
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the US (excluding skin cancers)
22
Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer death among women in the US
23
In 2020, breast cancer represented 24.5% of all female cancer cases globally
24
In 2020, breast cancer represented 15.5% of all cancer deaths in women globally
25
In 2020, breast cancer represented 11.7% of all cancer cases worldwide
26
In 2020, breast cancer represented 6.9% of all cancer deaths worldwide
27
Globally, about 1 in 5 cancer cases in women is breast cancer
28
Globally, about 1 in 6 cancer deaths in women is from breast cancer
29
Mammography screening can reduce breast cancer mortality in randomized trials
30
Screening mammography detects cancers earlier than diagnosis based on symptoms
Interpretation
Epidemiology, Risk Factors & Burden Interpretation
Breast cancer is often an ER and PR positive disease that mostly grows in predictable, treatable pathways, yet it is still common, deadly enough to lead cancer deaths among US women, and shaped by biology, lifestyle, screening access, and racial and global inequities, with dense breasts and missed mammograms quietly raising the odds while modifiable factors like alcohol, inactivity, and postmenopausal weight fight back in the background.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). Current Breast Cancer Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/current-breast-cancer-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "Current Breast Cancer Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/current-breast-cancer-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "Current Breast Cancer Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/current-breast-cancer-statistics.
Sources & references
35 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+28 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)