SOME STATISTICS

Statistics are listed along with the source that we used.  All statistics shown on this website pertain strictly to the United States unless otherwise specified:

* In 2008 almost 49,000 Americans, including 1,990 men, were reportedly diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (American Cancer Society; HOWEVER, this estimate excludes those who initially present with stage IV breast cancer.  If those are added, the number could be as high as 73,000 to 86.000.  (Silent Voices, a Living Beyond Breast Cancer publication).

* In developed countries, including the US, at least 30 % of women with early stage breast cancer will eventually develop metastatic breast cancer.  (2008 Global Survey by Pfizer Oncology)  NOTE:  Some reporting puts this number at 40%. Both statistics exclude those initially presenting with metastatic breast cancer.

*  In 2008, 40,930 Americans, including 450 men, died of metastatic breast cancer. (American Cancer Society – 2008 Statistics)  Worldwide, roughly 465,000 die annually of the disease (2008 Global Survey by Pfizer Oncology).

* There has been no reduction in the number of annual deaths from breast cancer since the late 1980s (Cancer World article by Marc Beishon). 

*  Five-year survival is generally said to be 27% and 10-year survival roughly 10% (Silent Voices, an LBBC publication).

* 2-3% are considered "cured" of the disease.  Most of these individuals fall into one of two categories:  1) young people who responded well to their initial BC mets treatment and never again recurred, and 2) persons diagnosed with a single, isolated lesion that was surgically removed and who never again recurred (Journal of Clinical Oncology - 2002).

* The number of Americans living with metastatic breast cancer is not known.  The numbers are neither collected nor maintained.

* Breast cancer is the most common kind of cancer in women, and the leading cause of cancer death for women worldwide, with nearly half a million deaths every year.