Lexi Webster
Australia has one of the highest rates of breast cancer diagnoses in the world, with the disease being the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian women. In 2024, approximately 21,194 people were diagnosed with breast cancer, and over a quarter of a million people in Australia were living with a breast cancer diagnosis. The high rate of breast cancer in Australia may be attributed to several factors, including an aging population, alcohol consumption, low physical activity, and post-menopausal obesity. While the mortality rate from breast cancer in Australia is decreasing, the number of deaths from breast cancer each year is still rising due to the increase in diagnoses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Risk factors | Family history, genetics, medical history, reproductive history, age, breast density, lifestyle choices (e.g. alcohol consumption, low physical activity, post-menopausal obesity), certain medications |
| Symptoms | Lumps, changes in breast shape or nipple, unusual pain, skin changes |
| Incidence rate | 67 cases per 100,000 persons in 2018; 69 cases per 100,000 persons in 2022 (projected) |
| Lifetime risk | 1 in 7 women; 1 in 550 men; 1 in 556 men (other source) |
| Age | Risk increases with age; average age of first diagnosis is 62; 80% of cases occur in women over 50 |
| Diagnosis | Increased by 24% in the last 10 years; 21,194 people projected to be diagnosed in 2024 |
| Deaths | 3,300 people die each year; 9 people die each day |
| Mortality rate | Decreased by over 40% since 1994; falling by 2.1% per year |
| Survival rate | 92% chance of surviving for at least 5 years |
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What You'll Learn
- High diagnosis rates: Australia has one of the highest rates of breast cancer diagnoses in the world
- Aging population: The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age
- Lifestyle factors: Alcohol consumption, low physical activity, and post-menopausal obesity are risk factors
- Survival rates: The five-year survival rate has increased from 76% to 92% in recent years
- Death rates: The mortality rate from breast cancer is falling, but the number of deaths is rising
High diagnosis rates: Australia has one of the highest rates of breast cancer diagnoses in the world
Australia has one of the highest rates of breast cancer diagnoses in the world. In 2018, the age-standardised incidence rate was 67 cases per 100,000 persons, with an estimated increase to 69 cases per 100,000 persons in 2022. The National Breast Cancer Foundation reports that one in seven women in Australia will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, translating to about 58 people receiving a diagnosis every day.
Several factors contribute to Australia's high breast cancer diagnosis rates. Firstly, an aging population plays a role. The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age, and the average age of women at diagnosis is 59 years, with 80% of new cases occurring in women over 50. Additionally, Australia's population structure includes risk factors such as alcohol consumption, low physical activity, and post-menopausal obesity, which are less prevalent in other countries.
While the incidence of breast cancer is high in Australia, it is important to note that the mortality rate is decreasing. The death rate from breast cancer has reduced by over 40% since 1994, and the five-year relative survival rate has significantly improved over the years, increasing from 71.8% between 1982-1986 to 87.8% between 1998-2004, and further rising to 92% in the 2016-2020 period. This improvement in survival rates is attributed to advancements in research, early detection, and improved treatments.
Despite the encouraging progress in survival rates, the number of breast cancer diagnoses in Australia continues to rise. This increase in diagnoses is a significant concern, as it drives an overall rise in breast cancer deaths each year, highlighting the critical need for proactive investment in breast cancer screening and treatment.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian women, and the second most commonly diagnosed cancer overall, after prostate cancer. It is a significant health concern in the country, affecting thousands of women and their families each year.
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Aging population: The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian women, accounting for about 28% of all new cancers in women. In 2024, an estimated 21,194 people were expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer, with 20,973 of those being women. The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. While breast cancer can develop at any age, it is more likely to occur in older individuals. The majority of breast cancer cases, about 80%, occur in women over the age of 50. The average age of the first diagnosis of breast cancer in women is 62. Rates of breast cancer are low in women under 40, with about 4% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. being younger than 40.
The risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer over a lifetime is 1 in 7 for women and 1 in 550 for men. However, the risk varies depending on age. For instance, the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40 is 1.55%, while at age 60, it increases to 3.54%. The risk continues to rise with age, with the highest rates of breast cancer being in individuals over 70.
In addition to age, other risk factors for breast cancer include family history, genetics, medical history, reproductive history, breast density, lifestyle choices, and certain medications. For example, having a first pregnancy after the age of 30, not breastfeeding, and never carrying a pregnancy to full term can increase the risk of breast cancer. Alcohol consumption is also a risk factor, with studies showing that a woman's risk for breast cancer increases with the amount of alcohol she consumes. Exposure to certain chemicals, smoking, and changes in hormones due to night shift work may also contribute to an increased risk of breast cancer.
While breast cancer diagnoses and incidence rates have been increasing in Australia, the death rate from breast cancer has decreased by over 40% since the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) began funding research in 1994. This improvement is largely attributed to advancements in prevention, early detection, and the development of new and improved treatments. Despite the progress made, breast cancer remains the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia and the leading cause of cancer deaths among females.
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Lifestyle factors: Alcohol consumption, low physical activity, and post-menopausal obesity are risk factors
Australia has seen a concerning surge in breast cancer diagnoses over the past three decades, with cases rising from 9,832 annually in 1994 to over 21,000 in 2024. This trend has made breast cancer the most common cancer among Australian women and the second most commonly diagnosed cancer overall.
Several lifestyle factors contribute to this high rate of breast cancer in Australia, including alcohol consumption, low physical activity, and post-menopausal obesity. Firstly, alcohol consumption is a leading modifiable risk factor for breast cancer. Research indicates that even modest drinking is associated with an elevated risk. Women who consume one alcoholic beverage per day have a 7-10% increased risk compared to non-drinkers, while those having 2-3 drinks daily face about a 20% higher risk. Alarmingly, drinking rates among women have been on the rise, with a concerning increase in binge drinking episodes during the pandemic and an 84% surge in alcohol use disorder from 2001 to 2013.
Secondly, low physical activity levels are associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. Exercise has been shown to positively influence DNA methylation, reducing the methylation of tumor suppressor genes and increasing their expression. This effect on tumor suppressor genes leads to a decreased risk of death from breast cancer. Additionally, physical activity is linked to a reduced tendency for the cancer to progress to more aggressive and invasive stages.
Lastly, obesity is a significant risk factor for post-menopausal breast cancer. Obesity influences the progression of breast cancer by impacting the molecular pathways associated with the disease. It is one of the 14 hallmarks that play a major role in the development of breast cancer, along with proliferative signaling, evading growth suppressors, activating invasion and metastasis, and more.
By addressing these lifestyle factors, Australian women can reduce their risk of developing breast cancer and improve their overall health and well-being.
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Survival rates: The five-year survival rate has increased from 76% to 92% in recent years
The five-year survival rate for breast cancer in Australia has increased from 76% to 92% in recent years. This means that those diagnosed with breast cancer are, on average, 92% as likely as those without the disease to live for at least five years post-diagnosis. This increase is largely attributed to research in prevention, early detection, and new and improved treatments.
Since the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) began funding research in 1994, the death rate from breast cancer in Australia has decreased by over 40%. This reduction is despite an overall rise in the number of breast cancer diagnoses and deaths each year. The increase in diagnoses is due to a combination of factors, including family history, genetics, medical history, reproductive history, age, breast density, lifestyle choices, and certain medications.
The five-year survival rate for Stage 1 (early) breast cancer is 100%, while Stage 2 has a survival rate of 95%. For locally advanced cancers (Stage 3), the survival rate drops to 81%. The five-year survival rate for metastatic breast cancer (Stage 4) is significantly lower at 32%. The survival rates also vary depending on age groups and other individual characteristics.
While the five-year survival rate has shown improvement, the focus is now on improving long-term survival rates and reducing the impact of daily medications, infusions, and injections that survivors may have to endure. Investing in research is key to improving survival rates and finding ways to prevent, detect, monitor, and effectively treat breast cancer.
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Death rates: The mortality rate from breast cancer is falling, but the number of deaths is rising
While the mortality rate from breast cancer in Australia is decreasing, the number of deaths is rising. This is largely driven by an increase in diagnoses. Since the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) started funding research in 1994, the death rate from breast cancer in Australia has reduced by over 40%. This is due in large part to research in prevention, early detection, and new and improved breast cancer treatments. The five-year survival rate has increased from 76% to 92%. Despite this, 9 people in Australia die from breast cancer every day, which equates to over 3,300 deaths from breast cancer each year.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in Australia, accounting for approximately 28% of all new cancers in Australian women. In 2024, approximately 21,194 people were expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer, with 20,973 of them being women. The risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer over a lifetime is 1 in 7 for women and 1 in 556 for men. The majority of breast cancer cases, about 80%, occur in women over the age of 50. However, breast cancer still occurs in young women, with close to 1,000 women under the age of 40 projected to be diagnosed with the disease.
The increase in the number of breast cancer diagnoses in Australia is reflected in global trends. In the past two decades, published epidemiological reports in different parts of the world show a significant increase in breast cancer mortality rates. A 2017 study showed an increase in cases by 33% from 2005 to 2015. From 2005 to 2015, there was an increase of 21.3% in breast cancer mortality from 439,800 to 533,600. The breast cancer mortality rate increases by about seven in a million every 5 years.
The decline in breast cancer mortality rates is likely due to improved treatment protocols, including the increased use of adjuvant chemotherapy.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2024, approximately 21,194 people were diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia. This included 20,973 women and 221 men.
The five-year relative survival rate for breast cancer in Australia has increased from 76% to 92%.
The mortality rate from breast cancer in Australia is decreasing. In 2020, there were 3,144 deaths from breast cancer, and this number is projected to increase to 3,214 in 2022.
Risk factors for breast cancer in Australia include family history, genetics, medical history, reproductive history, age, breast density, lifestyle choices, such as alcohol consumption and low physical activity, and certain medications.
Australia has one of the highest rates of breast cancer diagnoses globally, along with New Zealand. However, the mortality rate in Australia is falling, with a 2.1% annual reduction.
