how common is breast cancer

Breast cancer is common : in the U.S., about 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime, and it is the most common cancer diagnosed among women. Globally, it is also the most common cancer in women, with about 2.3 million new cases in 2023.

Quick Scoop

• In the U.S., about 321,910 women are expected to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2026.

• About 42,140 women are expected to die from it in 2026.

• Less than 1% of all breast cancers occur in men, but men can still get it.

• About 16% of women with breast cancer are younger than 50.

What that means

Breast cancer is not rare, which is why screening and early detection matter so much. Most cases are diagnosed at a localized stage, when treatment tends to work better.

Risk in plain language

The biggest risk factors are being a woman and getting older. Family history and inherited mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2 also raise risk, but many people diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history.

Bottom line

A simple way to think about it: breast cancer is one of the most common cancers overall, especially in women, but it is also one of the cancers where early detection can make a big difference.