Global situational overview of Breast Cancer

 

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According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women worldwide. It is also the second leading cause of death in women. In 2004, breast cancer claimed about 519, 000 lives across the globe. This malignant tumour accounts for 16% of all global cancers cases; 22.9% of invasive cancers; and is responsible for 18.2% of all cancer deaths worldwide. Survival rates for breast cancer exhibit considerable worldwide variation; ranging from 80% or above in North America, Sweden and Japan, to around 60% in middle-income countries; and less than 40% in low-income nations (Coleman et al., 2008). The low survival rates in less developed countries essentially arises from the lack of early detection programs; resulting in a high proportion of women seeking medical attention for their cases, at a relatively advanced stage of the tumour. This situation is exacerbated by the absence of adequate diagnostic and treatment facilities in these countries. As of January 1, 2009, there were about 2,747,459 women alive in the United States with a history of breast cancer. Approximately 12% or 1 in 8 women in the USA will develop breast cancer at some stage in their lives. In the USA, breast cancer has the second highest rate of all cancer-related deaths. In 2010, 49,564 women and 397 men in the UK were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. In 2010, there were 11,556 female and 77 male deaths from invasive breast cancer in the UK. In Taiwan, breast cancer incidents have risen from 6.23 per 100,000 in 1970 to 23.76 per 100,000 in 2000. Among all types of cancers reported in 2005, breast cancer was the second most frequent cancer in women; and was the prime killer of all invasive cancers. In Japan, the number of new breast cancer cases per year was estimated to be 41,490 in 2005. Since 2001, breast cancer had been the fifth leading primary cancer in South Korea, and the most common type of cancer among Korean women. As of 1996, breast cancer incidents steadily increased from 3,801 cases in 1996 to 9,668 newly diagnosed cases in 2004. In Sweden, breast cancer accounts for 30% of all female cancers, and 0.2% of all male cancers. The annual increase in breast cancer cases is 1.5 % over a 20-year period; and 1.6 over a 10-year period. In Canada, breast cancer is the most widespread cancer among females, with an estimated 28.9% new cases each year. In South Africa, breast cancer accounts for 8% of all cancer-related deaths. Every woman in every country in the world is at risk of getting breast cancer; though the magnitude of this risk varies from country to country, and from woman to woman. Even women considered to be at low risk of developing breast cancer should also adopt rigorous preventive measures to avoid the disease. Researchers and scientists all over the world are unanimous that: as far as breast cancer is concern, prevention is the best cure. To read more, please click here.