Breast cancer statistics
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women living in Canada (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). It is the 2nd leading cause of death from cancer in women living in Canada. Breast cancer can also occur in men, but it is not common.
To provide the most current cancer statistics, statistical methods are used to estimate the number of new cancer cases and deaths until actual data become available.
Incidence and mortality
Incidence is the total number of new cases of cancer. Mortality is the number of deaths due to cancer.
Cancer statistics are currently collected, analyzed and reported based on the sex assigned at birth, with male/men and female/women categories. We need to address gaps in how statistics are collected to better understand cancer in transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse people.
It is estimated that in 2025:
- 31,900 women living in Canada will be diagnosed with breast cancer. This represents 26% of all new cancer cases in women in 2025.
- 5,400 women living in Canada will die from breast cancer. This represents 13% of all cancer deaths in women in 2025.
- On average, 87 women in Canada will be diagnosed with breast cancer every day.
- On average, 15 women in Canada will die from breast cancer every day.
- 290 men in Canada will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 55 will die from breast cancer.
|
Category |
Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
|
New cases |
31,900 |
290 |
|
Deaths |
5,400 |
55 |
|
5-year net survival (estimates for 2015 to 2017) |
89% |
76% |
Trends in breast cancer
The rate of new cases of breast cancer in women in Canada rose between 1984 and 1992. The rate has fluctuated from year to year since then, but has mostly stayed the same overall.
The increase until the early 1990s occurred partly because
The slight decrease in rate between 2002 and 2003 coincided with a drop in the use of hormone replacement therapy among post-menopausal women when its role in breast cancer was publicized.
The breast cancer death rate peaked in 1986 and has been declining since. This reduction in death rates likely reflects the impact of screening and improvements in treatment for breast cancer.
Chances (probability) of developing or dying from breast cancer
It is estimated that about 1 in 8 women in Canada will develop breast cancer during their lifetime and 1 in 35 will die from it.
For more information about cancer statistics, go to Canadian Cancer Statistics.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
This month, nearly 2,600 people in Canada will hear the words, “You have breast cancer.” Your donation funds research to help save and improve lives.
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