Francisco J. Esteva: Rising breast cancer rates and disparities among women under 50

Francisco J. Esteva, Director at Breast Cancer Translational Research, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Breast cancer rates are rising, especially in women under 50. For 2024, we’re looking at an estimated 346,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 51,400 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS in the U.S. Younger women are seeing a faster increase in incidence rates compared to older women, and while overall mortality rates are going down, the decline is slower for younger women.

There are significant racial and ethnic disparities in breast cancer outcomes. African American women have higher mortality rates than white women, even though they have a slightly lower incidence rate. Hispanic women also face higher mortality rates relative to their incidence rates. This highlights the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities.

Screening and early detection are critical, but mammography rates have taken a hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to concerns about delayed diagnoses. Known risk factors like family history and genetic mutations still play a big role in breast cancer incidence.

Overall survival rates are better thanks to advances in treatment and early detection, but survival rates vary significantly based on the stage at diagnosis and factors such as race and ethnicity.

Continued research and efforts to improve access to screening, diagnosis, and treatment are essential for reducing breast cancer mortality and addressing disparities.”

Breast cancer statistics 2024

Authors: Angela N. Giaquinto MSPH, Hyuna Sung PhD, Lisa A. Newman MD, MPH, Rachel A. Freedman MD, MPH, Robert A. Smith PhD, Jessica Star MA, MPH, Ahmedin Jemal DVM, PhD, Rebecca L. Siegel MPH

Source: Francisco J. Esteva/LinkedIn