In 2011 it is estimated that 14,300 women and men in Australia will be diagnosed with breast cancer, making it the most common cancer for women.
It is important to remember that most women survive breast cancer -- latest statistics (2006) show that the 5-year survival rate for women diagnosed with breast cancer is more than 88%.
Of course, many women live long and healthy lives well beyond this period.
A snapshot of breast cancer in Australia
- Australian women have a 1 in 9 lifetime risk of developing breast cancer
- The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age
- The average age of first diagnosis of breast cancer in women is 60 years
- 75 per cent of new cases of breast cancer develop in women over the age of 50
- Women in the highest income quintile have an incidence rate of breast cancer of 134 women per 100,000 population, compared with 110 women per 100,000 population in the lowest income quintile
The graph below shows the rate of incidence of breast cancer by age for Australian women in 2006.
How do I know if I have breast cancer?
Many breast cancers are discovered as a result of a mammogram. You may have no symptoms, but at a regular check-up your mammogram shows a lump, or change, in your breast.
Sometimes, your doctor may notice a change in your breast through a breast examination, or you may notice a change yourself or discover a lump during a self-examination. If you find a change in your breast that is unusual for you, you should see your GP without delay.
Your doctor will order a series of tests to find out if the change is due to cancer. Nine out of ten breast changes aren't due to cancer, but it's important to see a doctor to be sure.
How did I get breast cancer?
It is difficult to pinpoint why some women get breast cancer and others don't. There are some risk factors which may increase your risk of developing breast cancer, but having one or more of these risk factors does not mean you will definitely develop breast cancer.
Known risk factors include:
- being a woman
- getting older
- inheriting a faulty gene that increases the risk
- having a strong family history of breast cancer
More information
- If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you can order a copy of My Journey Kit, our free comprehensive resource for newly diagnosed women.
- To find out more about breast cancer in Australia, download the brief summary of BCNA statistics in Australian Breast Cancer, February 2010 (a PDF of the complete document is also available).
- For information on how to be 'breast aware' and look for any changes in your breasts, visit the Cancer Australia website section on breast changes and breast awareness.
