The history of breast cancer
Campaign's 2,000-year chronological snapshot of the key developments on the path to finding a cure.Breast cancer: the facts
The human body is made up of billions of building blocks called cells. There are natural systems within the body which regulate the formation, growth and death of the cells in a controlled way to produce and replace the body's tissue. If something disrupts this controlled process, the cells divide and develop without their normal control and grow into a lump called a tumour. Tumours are either benign or malignant, cancer is the name given to a malignant tumour.
Breast cancer occurs when this control process fails in the cells that make up the breast tissue and they develop into a tumour.
If the tumour is detected as soon as possible, then there is a good chance it can be treated successfully. The more the cancer has spread, the more difficult it is to treat. It is important to be breast aware and know what is normal for you.
In the UK
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer and accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women
- One woman in nine will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime
- Breast cancer is the second biggest cause of death from cancer in women
Every year
- Over 45,500 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer
- Almost 12,500 women will die from breast cancer
Every month
- Over 3,800 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer
- Over 1,000 women will die from breast cancer
Survival rates
- Five-year survival rates for breast cancer have improved significantly over the last 20 years
- The most recent figures show around 80 per cent of women in the UK diagnosed today will be alive in five years time
- This is largely due to increased awareness of breast cancer, the introduction of the screening programme and the successes of breast cancer research, which have led to improved treatments that are now available
Men (in the UK)
- Can also suffer from breast cancer. Although it is rare, almost 300 men are diagnosed each year
- Nearly 75 men a year die from breast cancer
- All the risk factors talked about on this web page refer to women. For more specific information on men with breast cancer contact Breast Cancer Care
