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Breast Cancer Is On The Rise: Data Reveal Drastic Gap In Survival Rates

Mammograms can help to detect breast cancers early, increasing the chance of successful treatment.Credit: Eduardo Briones/Europa Press via Getty

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, but survival chances vary drastically depending on where a woman lives, a new study shows1.

Using global data, the work paints a detailed picture of breast cancer trends and disparities across countries. Although wealthy nations have more diagnoses, low- and middle-income countries face higher death rates owing to limited access to early detection and treatment.

"This is the best comprehensive global overview of breast cancer," says Rudolf Kaaks, a cancer epidemiologist at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg.

The findings — published in Nature Medicine on 24 February1 — could inform health policies worldwide to improve breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, says study lead author Miranda Fidler-Benaoudia, a cancer epidemiologist at Alberta Health Services in Calgary, Canada.

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Fidler-Benaoudia and her colleagues looked at the global impact of breast cancer in 2022, the most recent year for which estimates of cases and deaths were available, and projected the impact in 2050 across 185 countries. The researchers also analysed trends in breast cancer cases and deaths over the past ten years in dozens of countries.

In 2022, there were 2.3 million new cases and 670,000 deaths from breast cancer globally. However, death rates were higher in poorer regions than in wealthier nations (see 'Global burden'). For example, those aged under 50 in low-income countries were four times more likely to die from breast cancer than were those in high-income countries.

Kat Timpf's Stage 0 Breast Cancer Diagnosis: What To Know About The Condition And Signs To Watch For

Fox News personality Kat Timpf's Stage 0 breast cancer revelation comes with a crucial silver lining that all women should understand. The 36-year-old commentator and comedian announced this week that doctors diagnosed her with breast cancer just fifteen hours before she delivered her first child. Timpf maintained her characteristic humor while sharing the news, describing her condition as "just, like, a LITTLE bit of cancer" and noting that her doctor is "confident that it almost certainly hasn't spread."

Despite the diagnosis recommending "a double mastectomy as soon as possible," Timpf expressed gratitude for early detection and her new son. "I'm lucky that we found the cancer so early; I'm lucky to be my son's mom," she wrote, adding that she'll take three months of maternity leave while adjusting to her "new reality."

The timing and nature of Timpf's diagnosis spotlights an important yet often misunderstood form of breast cancer. Stage 0, or "carcinoma in situ," represents the earliest detectable phase of breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute explains that the term literally means cancer ("carcinoma") in its original place ("in situ"), indicating the abnormal cells haven't spread beyond their initial location.

This classification accounts for approximately 20% of newly diagnosed breast cancer cases and primarily involves ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), where abnormal cells develop in the milk ducts. Though technically cancer, Stage 0 is considered non-invasive because these cells remain confined to their original location without spreading to surrounding breast tissue, lymph nodes, or other body parts.

What makes early detection particularly critical is that Stage 0 breast cancer typically presents no observable symptoms. According to the National Cancer Institute, most cases are discovered during routine mammograms before physical signs develop. When symptoms do occur, they might include a lump or unusual nipple discharge, sometimes containing blood.

Stage 0 breast cancer is classified into three grades based on how the cells appear under microscopic examination. Grade 1 cells closely resemble normal breast cells and tend to grow slowly. Grade 2 cells still look similar to normal cells but grow at a moderate pace. Grade 3 cells appear distinctly different from normal breast cells and typically grow more rapidly, presenting a higher risk of developing into invasive breast cancer.

Treatment approaches vary widely depending on individual circumstances. Options include lumpectomy (removing only affected tissue), mastectomy (removing the entire breast), radiation therapy, and hormonal treatments. Some patients with very early-stage or low-grade DCIS may qualify for active surveillance rather than immediate intervention. Importantly, chemotherapy is not part of standard treatment for Stage 0 breast cancer.

The prognosis for Stage 0 breast cancer is exceptionally positive, with a five-year relative survival rate of 99%, according to American Cancer Society statistics. When detected and treated promptly, patients typically have normal life expectancy.

Beyond medical treatment, regular follow-up mammograms and ongoing communication with healthcare providers remain essential after diagnosis. The National Cancer Institute notes that many Stage 0 cancer survivors also dedicate additional attention to mental and emotional well-being as part of their recovery journey. As Timpf concluded in her announcement: "Here's to resilience, to miracles in the midst of chaos, and to finding humor and hope even on the toughest days."

Breast Cancer Drug Shows Positive Results In Late-stage Trial

AstraZeneca's experimental breast cancer drug camizestrant, when combined with a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, has shown significant improvement in delaying disease progression in patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer. 

The phase 3 trial was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of switching to camizestrant in combination with a CDK 4/6 inhibitor after the emergence of an ESR1 mutation, a key driver of resistance to endocrine therapy, according to a Feb. 26 news release from the company. 

The results showed a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival. While secondary end points — including overall survival and time to second disease progression — remain under evaluation, initial data showed a trend toward improved outcomes with the camizestrant combination. 

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