Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among women (lung cancer is the leading cause). Among women ages 40 to 55 breast cancer is the number one cause of death. The number of cases per 1,000 women has increased slightly every year for the last 50 years, although it has leveled off recently.
The disease rate has been steadily increasing in younger women, especially African-Americans. The highest overallincidence rate still occurs among white women. However, during the last four years the mortality rate has declined among both white and African-American women, most likely because of earlier detection and improved treatment.
During 2000, 182,800 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women, about 110 cases per 100,000, and 40,800 women will die, according to the American Cancer Society. That rate is equivalent to one diagnosis every 3 minutes and one death due to breast cancer every 12 minutes. In addition, 1,400 men will develop breast cancer and 400 will die from the disease.
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