MEDIA RELEASE
UNDER EMBARGO—strictly not for publication before 1.00am Monday 26 October 2009
More breast cancer cases, but early detection and
improved treatment lead to fewer deaths
More women are being diagnosed with breast cancer than ever before, but death rates
continue to fall, according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare (AIHW) and National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC).
The report, Breast cancer in Australia: an overview, 2009, was launched at NBOCC’s Pink
Ribbon Breakfast in Sydney to mark Australia’s Breast Cancer Day.
In 2006, over 12,600 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, the largest number of new
cases recorded in any year to date.
‘To put that into context, on an average day in 2006, 35 Australian women were diagnosed
with invasive breast cancer,’ said Dr Adriana Vanden Heuvel of the AIHW’s Cancer and
Screening Unit.
‘It is anticipated that the number of new cases in Australia will continue to rise so that by
2015, an average of 42 women every day will be told they have breast cancer—over 15,000
women in total for the year,’ said Dr Helen Zorbas, CEO of NBOCC.
According to the report, 1 in 9 Australian women will develop breast cancer and 1 in 38
women will die from the disease before the age of 85.
‘Although the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer has more than doubled in the
past 25 years, largely due to a growing and ageing population, improved survival rates give
increasing hope to women diagnosed today,’ Dr Zorbas said.
‘Between 1994 and 2006 the death rate from breast cancer fell by 27%. This is the lowest
recorded rate in the 25 years covered in the report,’ Dr Vanden Heuvel said.
In addition to declining death rates, the percentage of women living for at least 5 years after
diagnosis is continuing to improve.
Most (88%) women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2000 and 2006 will likely live for
at least five years after diagnosis. This compares with 73% of those diagnosed between 1982
and 1987.
Despite these gains, the report shows some disparities in outcomes, with survival rates
varying by age, geographical location, Indigenous status and socioeconomic status.
‘For example, 90% of women with breast cancer living in areas with the highest
socioeconomic status will be alive five years after their diagnosis, compared with 86%of
women living in areas with the lowest socioeconomic status,’ Dr Zorbas said.
The available information also suggests that although Indigenous women were significantly
less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than non-Indigenous women, among those
Indigenous women diagnosed, survival was poorer than for non-Indigenous women.
Canberra, 22 October 2009
Further information: Dr Adriana Vanden Heuvel, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1184 or 0418 271 395
To interview Dr Helen Zorbas, NBOCC, contact Bree Stevens 0438 209 833, Erin Sharp 0458
900 777 or Lisa Michalanney 0421 067 953
For media copies of the report: Publications Officer 02 6244 1032
UNDER EMBARGO—strictly not for publication before 1.00am Monday 26 October 2009
Key facts on breast cancer
On an average day in 2006, 35 Australian women were diagnosed with breast cancer
and 7 women died from breast cancer.
12,614 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in Australian women in 2006. This is the
largest number of new breast cancer cases recorded for women in any year to date.
The number of breast cancer cases diagnosed in women each year has more than
doubled between 1982 and 2006 from 5,289 cases to 12,614 cases.
The rate of breast cancer was 112 per 100,000 females in 2006. This is significantly
higher than bowel cancer (52 cases per 100,000) and melanoma (38 cases per 100,000).
The risk of a woman being diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 85 years is 1 in 9
and the risk of a woman dying from breast cancer by the age of 85 years is 1 in 38.
Of all breast cancer cases in females in 2006, 6% occurred in females aged less than 40
years, 69% in those aged 40 to 69 years and 25% in women aged 70 years and over.
The average age at diagnosis of breast cancer for women is 60 years of age.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women (apart from two types of non-
reportable skin cancer) representing 28% of reported cancer cases in women in 2006.
2,618 women died from breast cancer in 2006, making it the second most common
cause of cancer deaths for women, after lung cancer (2,683 deaths).
There were 22 breast cancer deaths per 100,000 women in 2006, the lowest recorded
rate in the 25-year period considered.
Women who were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2000 and 2006 were 88% as
likely to live five years after diagnosis as their counterparts in the general population,
compared with 73% for those diagnosed between 1982 and 1987.
Survival was significantly better for those women who lived in areas with the highest
socioeconomic status (90% survival for five years after diagnosis) compared with those
living in areas with the lowest socioeconomic status (86% survival).
Between 2002 and 2006, Indigenous women were significantly less likely to be
diagnosed with breast cancer than non-Indigenous women (69 versus 103 new cases
per 100,000).
The survival of Indigenous women diagnosed with breast cancer was poorer than for
non-Indigenous women (65% versus 82% survival for 5 years).
Women who were diagnosed with breast cancer when aged 60 to 69 years had the best
survival prospects (92% survival for 5 years after diagnosis compared with 76%
survival for those aged 80 years and over when diagnosed).
The number of women diagnosed with breast cancer is projected to continue to
increase, with an estimated 15,409 cases to be diagnosed in 2015.
On an average day in 2015, 42 women are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
102 men were diagnosed with breast cancer and 25 died of the disease in 2006.
There were 1,558 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (a non-invasive tumour of the breast)
diagnosed in women in 2005.
NEWS 
