Breast cancer rates spiking in women under 50: Study

Breast cancer incidence is increasing among younger women in the US, with notable disparities in mortality rates across different racial and ethnic groups.

Breast cancer cases among women under 50 in the US have been rising steadily, with an annual increase of 1.4% between 2012 and 2021. This concerning trend is most pronounced among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women, where the increase reaches 2.5% to 2.7% per year.

These findings come from the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) latest report, "Breast Cancer Statistics 2024," which outlines both the rising incidence and overall trends in breast cancer across the country.

The ACS report, based on extensive data from national cancer registries, finds that breast cancer remains the most common cancer among US women after skin cancer.

While overall mortality rates have dropped by 44% since 1989, leading to the prevention of over half a million deaths, this progress is uneven across different racial and ethnic groups. American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) women, for instance, have seen no improvement in mortality rates over the past three decades.

Meanwhile, Black women continue to have a 38% higher breast cancer mortality rate compared to White women, despite a lower incidence rate.

In 2024, an estimated 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women across the US, with approximately 42,250 deaths expected.

Although breast cancer remains rare in men, around 2,790 men will be diagnosed this year, and 530 are predicted to die from the disease.

The report highlights the need for better access to early detection and treatment, particularly for women in underserved communities.

Dr William Dahut, chief scientific officer at ACS, emphasised the importance of addressing disparities in care, especially for Black, AAPI, and AIAN women. Efforts like the ACS’s VOICES of Black Women study aim to close these gaps by enrolling 1,00,000 Black women to explore cancer risks and outcomes.

Ensuring access to screening is vital for reducing mortality rates, with the ACS urging Congress to pass legislation to expand breast cancer screening programs for uninsured and underinsured women.