Since the inception of Breast Cancer Awareness Month initiatives 40 years ago, there have been remarkable advancements in the treatment and management of breast cancer. Although the incidence of breast cancer diagnoses among women has risen, the good news is that the death rates have been steadily declining. Moreover, the five-year survival rates have significantly increased. Most importantly, a majority of breast cancer cases are now identified in their early stages, which greatly enhances the effectiveness of treatment. Dr. Julia McGuinness, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of hematology/oncology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, expressed her excitement about these advancements, stating that the improvements in treatments are allowing women to live longer, healthier lives.
The trend of breast cancer death rates has shown a notable decline since 1989, following a period of relative stability during the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. According to data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program under the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the death rate from breast cancer was 31.45 deaths per 100,000 women in 1975. By 2023, this figure had dropped to 18.55 deaths per 100,000 women. Dr. McGuinness emphasized that catching cancer at earlier stages has enabled more women to receive timely treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, effectively reducing the chances of recurrence. “It's a very encouraging trend to see that even though more women are being diagnosed with breast cancer, they are living longer, and fewer women treated for early breast cancer will have their cancer recur,” she said.
In addition to declining death rates, significant progress has been made in the five-year relative survival rates for breast cancer patients. This statistic measures the percentage of individuals who survive five years post-diagnosis or treatment initiation. Data from the NCI's SEER Program indicates that the five-year relative survival rate was 76.16% in 1975, which improved to an impressive 93.2% by 2017. Dr. McGuinness noted that advancements in treatment have been dramatic, especially in the last decade. New drug approvals have allowed women with metastatic breast cancer to live several years longer than they could just ten years ago. Treatments such as anti-estrogen therapy and modern targeted therapies, including immunotherapy, have transformed the landscape of breast cancer treatment.
Recent data reveal that breast cancer cases among women are increasingly being diagnosed at earlier stages, before metastasis occurs. Between 2018 and 2022, approximately two-thirds of female breast cancer cases were diagnosed at a localized stage, meaning the cancer remained confined to the breast. In contrast, about 25% of cases were detected at a regional stage, where the cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes or tissues, and only 6% were identified at a distant stage, indicating metastasis to other parts of the body. Dr. McGuinness attributes this trend to the significant improvements in breast cancer screening over the past four decades. “Mammography screening programs that began in the 1970s have led to increased engagement among women, enhancing our ability to detect breast cancer at an early and more treatable stage,” she explained.
Dr. McGuinness is optimistic about the future of breast cancer treatment, anticipating continued advancements that will facilitate early detection and enhance survival rates while further reducing death rates. “We’re constantly moving the needle towards better outcomes,” she stated. “The beautiful aspect of treating breast cancer is that we have a multitude of options, which allows for personalized discussions with patients about the best treatment pathways for them.” With ongoing research and development, the outlook for breast cancer patients is brighter than ever.
