While breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in the US, the death rate from the disease continues to drop, according to a new American Cancer Society report, Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2009-2010.

“The steady drop in the breast cancer death rate means that this year alone, about 15,000 breast cancer deaths were avoided that would have occurred had rates not begun to drop,” said John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society. “Since the early 1990s, that decline adds up to more than 130,000 grandmothers, mothers, and daughters who were alive, perhaps to celebrate another birthday, and even to go on to live a full, rich life.”

However, not all women are benefitting equally, the report shows.

“While there is much to celebrate in the fight against cancer, this report is also a strong reminder that far too many women still die of breast cancer and of the work yet to be done,” said Elizabeth “Terry” T.H. Fontham, MPH., Dr.PH, American Cancer Society national volunteer president. “We need to make sure all women have access to information to help them reduce their risk and to resources to ensure early detection and the best possible treatment.”

Ongoing disparity gap

Breast cancer death rates have been on the decline since 1990, with larger decreases in women younger than 50. Researchers attribute those declines to early detection through screening, such as mammography, and improvements in treatment. The number of breast cancer survivors is growing – as of January 2006, there were approximately 2.5 million women in the US living with a history of breast cancer, the report shows.

However, the report highlights disparities among populations.

White women have higher incidence rates of breast cancer than African-American women overall, but while incidence rates have stabilized among African-American women, they've declined steadily in white women since 1999, at about 2% per year. And as of 2006, breast cancer death rates were 38% higher in African-American women than in white women. African-American women are also more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, when the cancer is less treatable.

Researchers attribute some of the decline in breast cancer cases among white women to decreased use of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT), after results from the 2002 Women's Health Initiative linked HRT use to an increased risk of breast cancer and heart disease. The stable incidence rate among African American women may be due in part to the fact that their use of HRT was already lower and the fact that mammography use has remained fairly stable in this population, according to the report.

How to minimize your risk

The good news is that researchers now know more about the major risk factors for breast cancer, and many, like how much you exercise and how much you weigh, can be controlled.

“We’ve now identified major risk factors for breast cancer, many of which are modifiable," said Otis W. Brawley, MD, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. "For instance, we’ve seen a drop in incidence associated with less use of postmenopausal hormones. And while that is gratifying to see, we remain concerned about obesity’s potential to offset that drop, and lead to an increase in the incidence of breast cancer in the future.”

Mammograms can find breast cancers earlier, when they are easier to treat and the chances of survival are higher. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms and breast exams for women 40 and older. Women at high risk – those with a known family history of BRCA gene mutations, for example—should talk to their doctors about getting an MRI.

In addition to getting a yearly mammogram, there are steps women can take to reduce their risk of breast cancer:

• Eat a healthy diet to help control weight, since being overweight or obese may raise breast cancer risk. 
• Get regular physical activity. The American Cancer Society recommends 30 minutes a day, 5 or more days a week. Forty-five to 60 minutes a day may be even better for reducing breast cancer risk. 
• Limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than 1 drink per day. Alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

And perhaps most important, be sure to talk to your doctor if you notice any changes in your breasts or have any other concerns.

To read the report, visit www.cancer.org/statistics. For more information about breast cancer early detection, prevention, and treatment, see our Detailed Guide.

Reviewed by: Members of the ACS Medical Content Staff