Breast Cancer Resources

Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death and, excluding skin cancers, the most frequently diagnosed cancer among females in the US.¹ The lifetime risk of developing breast cancer among females is one in eight.¹ Breast cancer is typically diagnosed during a screening examination. An estimated 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 43,600 breast cancer-related deaths are expected to occur among females nationally in 2021.¹ At the state level, in 2021, an estimated 5,460 new cases of female breast cancer and 910 deaths are expected to occur.¹ White and African American females have similar incidence rates; however, African American females have higher mortality rates.² This may be, in part, because of late diagnosis, diagnosis in younger individuals, more aggressive breast cancers diagnosed in African American women, and barriers to health care access.² Today, there are 3.8 million US females who are breast cancer survivors.¹ Females should have frequent conversations with their health care providers about their risks for breast cancer and how often they should be screened. Breast cancer is rare among males, as an estimated 2,650 cases will occur among US men in 2021.¹ However, because males are prone to ignoring warning signs, they are often diagnosed at later stages and have poorer prognoses. During 2021, it’s estimated that 530 men are expected to die from breast cancer.¹