Study Shows Increase In Breast Cancer Incidences

A new report from the American Cancer Society has revealed two major concerns about the disease and its incidences.

The report, which was published on Oct. 2, reveals that not only is the disease occurring more frequently, but that it is being found more in younger women. From 2012 to 2021, breast cancer has increased in incidence by 1% every year and while it has been known to be found mostly in women over the age 50, the report shows more women under 50 have been diagnosed with it.

Source: everything bagel / Getty

Currently, women younger than 50 are seeing an increase of breast cancer by 1.4% a year, which is double than what women over 50 are experiencing.

The age group is not the only disparity with breast cancer. There’s also a gap between Black women who get it versus white women. Breast cancer can be treatable when detected in its early stages, but Black women are least likely to be diagnosed during that stage.

The localized stage is when the cancer has not spread outside of the breast, and 58% of Black women get diagnosed at this point, but white women get diagnosed at 68%. Despite being 5% less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, Black women are 38% more likely to die from it.

CNN reports that chief scientist officer of American Cancer Society, Dr. William Dahut, said, “If you look actually more carefully at the mortality data, this is really driven by young women particularly. If you look at Black women between the ages of 20 and 29, their chances of dying from breast cancer is two times greater than their White colleagues.”

The good news is breast cancer death rates are still on a steady decline for women, but it hasn’t been regressing at the same rate for women of different backgrounds. Since the 1990s, white women have seen a 43% decrease while Black women and Hispanic women have seen a 31%-32% decrease. Asian American and Pacific Islander women have only seen a 13% decrease but have seen the fastest increase in incidence for women older and younger than 50.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Embracing All The Sides Of Myself’: Michelle James Shares Her Breast Cancer Journey