What to know
Based on the most recent data available, in the United States in 2021, 272,454 new breast cancers were reported in females and in 2022, 42,211 females died from breast cancer.
Incidence and death rates
Females had much higher rates of getting breast cancer than dying from breast cancer.
Stage distribution
From 2017 to 2021, about 2 in 3 female breast cancer cases were diagnosed at a localized stage, meaning the cancer had not spread outside the breast. About 1 in 4 female breast cancers were found at a regional stage (the cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes, tissues, or organs), and 6% were found at a distant stage (the cancer had spread to distant parts of the body).
5-year relative survival
Overall, 91% of female breast cancer patients had not died from their cancer 5 years later. However, survival varied by stage at diagnosis.
Survival is higher when breast cancer is found before it has spread to other parts of the body. Screening can find breast cancers earlier. Mammograms are the best way for females of average risk to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat and before the tumor is big enough to feel or cause symptoms.
5-year limited duration prevalence
Among females diagnosed with breast cancer from 2016 to 2020, 1,127,409 were still alive on January 1, 2021.
Impact of COVID-19
Resource
Data sources
Data are from U.S. Cancer Statistics, the official federal cancer statistics.
U.S. Cancer Statistics incidence data are from population-based registries that participate in CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR), the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, or both programs and met high-quality data criteria for data submitted in 2023, covering 98% of the U.S. population.
U.S. Cancer Statistics death data are from CDC's National Center for Health Statistics National Vital Statistics System and cover 100% of the U.S. population.
U.S. Cancer Statistics survival and prevalence data are from 43 NPCR registries that met high-quality data criteria for the 2023 data submission and conducted linkage with the National Death Index and/or active patient follow-up, covering 92% of the U.S. population. Five-year relative survival estimates are based on cases diagnosed from 2014 to 2020. Five-year limited-duration prevalence estimates are based on cases diagnosed from 2016 to 2020.