Breast cancer deaths in the US have decreased slightly from 2001 to 2004, according to a report by the American Caner Society that was released this week.
The report, “Breast Cancer Facts and Figures 2007-2008,” published every two years since 1996, provides detailed analyses of breast cancer trends and presents information on known risk factors for the disease, factors that influence survival, the latest data on prevention, early detection, treatment, and ongoing and future research. The report showed a 2% annual decrease in breast cancer deaths from 2001 to 2004, as well as a 3.7% annual decrease in breast cancer diagnoses. “While many women live in fear of breast cancer, this report shows a woman today has a lower chance of dying from breast cancer than she’s had in decades,” said Dr. Harmon J. Eyre chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society.
The report also notes that breast cancer rates have remained relatively stable among African American women despite the overall decrease. The report also estimates about 178,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2007.
