Breast Cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the United States. Both its cause and its cure remain undiscovered. About two million breast cancer survivors are alive in America today.
In 1998, 180,000 new cases of female breast cancer will be diagnosed, and 43,500 women will die from the disease.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for all women, and the leading cause of cancer death in all women between the ages of 40 and 55.
Men develop breast cancer, too, although its incidence is low. In 1998, 1,600 male cases are projected to be diagnosed, and 400 men will die from the disease.
One out of nine women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.
A breast cancer will be newly diagnosed every three minutes.
Every 12 minutes a woman will die from breast cancer.