Deaths from breast cancer in the U.S. 1950-2022

The rate of breast cancer deaths in the U.S. has dramatically declined since 1950. As of 2022, the death rate from breast cancer had dropped from 31.9 to 18.7 per 100,000 population. Cancer is a serious public health issue in the United States. As of 2021, cancer is the second leading cause of death among women.

Breast cancer incidence

Breast cancer symptoms include lumps or thickening of the breast tissue and may include changes to the skin. Breast cancer is driven by many factors, but age is a known risk factor. Among all age groups, the highest number of invasive breast cancer cases were among those aged 60 to 69. The incidence rate of new breast cancer cases is higher in some ethnicities than others. White, non-Hispanic women had the highest incidence rate of breast cancer, followed by non-Hispanic Black women. 

Breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer treatments usually involve several methods, including surgery, chemotherapy and biological therapy. Types of cancer diagnosed at earlier stages often require fewer treatments. A majority of the early stage breast cancer cases in the U.S. receive breast conserving surgery and radiation therapy.