Breast cancer in young women in Australia
The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Estimated % of all new cancer cases diagnosed for women aged 20−39 in 2017
23%
Estimated % of all deaths in 2017 from cancer in women aged 20−39
20%
Incidence and mortality of breast cancer in young women
- In 2014, about 2 breast cancer cases were diagnosed every day.
- In 2014, 772 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in young women, while 57 died of the disease.
- In 2015, 68 young women died of the disease.
- In 2017, breast cancer was estimated to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women aged 20−39.
- In 2017, breast cancer was estimated to be the most common cause of death from cancer in women aged 20−39.
Survival for breast cancer in young women
Five-year relative survival from breast cancer by age at diagnosis, 2009–2013
| Age group | 5-year relative survival |
|---|---|
| 20-24 | 86.3 |
| 25-29 | 86.8 |
| 30-34 | 87.4 |
| 35-39 | 90.2 |
| 40-44 | 92.2 |
| 45-49 | 93.0 |
| 50-54 | 92.2 |
| 55-59 | 92.2 |
| 60-64 | 92.7 |
| 65-69 | 93.4 |
| 70-74 | 89.5 |
| 75+ | 79.4 |
Diagnosis of breast cancer in young women by stage
- In 2011, women aged 0−39 years were less likely to be diagnosed in the early stages of disease than women aged 40-44 years (72% versus 76%).
- In 2011, women aged 0-39 years were more likely to be diagnosed in the locally advanced stages than women aged 40-44 years (19% versus 16%).
Stage distribution of breast cancer by age and sex, 2011 (percentage of age group)
| Age group | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 | Unknown |
| 0-39 | 28.6 | 43.5 | 18.5 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| 40-44 | 36.4 | 39.4 | 16.0 | 3.8 | 4.5 |
| 45-49 | 40.7 | 39.5 | 13.4 | 3.4 | 2.9 |
| 50-54 | 45.2 | 35.1 | 13.7 | 3.5 | 2.4 |
| 55-59 | 47.5 | 33.8 | 12.3 | 3.6 | 2.8 |
| 60-64 | 52.0 | 31.0 | 10.2 | 3.5 | 3.3 |
| 65-69 | 53.7 | 28.9 | 9.6 | 4.3 | 3.5 |
| 70-74 | 44.6 | 34.8 | 10.2 | 6.2 | 4.2 |
| 75-79 | 38.9 | 36.6 | 10.4 | 5.9 | 8.2 |
| 80-84 | 30.4 | 33.4 | 12.1 | 7.6 | 16.5 |
| 85+ | 17.1 | 32.1 | 9.4 | 7.9 | 33.5 |
Breast cancer in young women by tumour size
- In 2009, women aged 20−39 were more likely to be diagnosed with large cancers (≥50 mm) than women aged 40 years and over (8% versus 6%).
- In 2009, women aged 20−39 were more likely to be diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma than women aged 40 years and over (87% versus 78%).
- In 1992−2011, women with very large cancers. (≥50 mm) aged 20−39 and 40 years and over both had a 78% chance of 5-year relative survival.
- In 2007−2011, women aged 20−39 with small cancers (<15 mm) had a lower five-year relative survival compared with women aged 40 years and over (93% versus 99%).
- In 2007−2011, women aged 20−39 with very large cancers (≥50 mm) had a lower five-year relative survival compared with women in the same age group with small cancers (<15mm) (78% versus 93%).
- In 1992−2011, women aged 20−39 with invasive ductal carcinoma had a lower chance of 5-year relative survival than women aged 40 years and over (83% versus 88%).
Burden of disease
- In 2011, breast cancer accounted for more than a quarter (26.4%) of the cancer burden in women aged 25–44 years.
- In 2011, breast cancer accounted for a quarter of cancer (25.9%) burden due to premature death in women aged 25–44 years.
- In 2011, breast cancer accounted for about one-third (32%) of non-fatal cancer burden in women aged 25–44.
Source: AIHW
Source: AIHW
Source: AIHW
published: Mon, 26/10/2015 - 08:00
References
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2017 Australian Cancer Incidence and Mortality (ACIM) books: breast cancer Canberra: AIHW. http://www.aihw.gov.au/acim-books
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2017. Cancer in Australia 2017. Cancer series no.101. Cat. no. CAN 100. Canberra: AIHW.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2017. Burden of Cancer in Australia: Australian Burden of Disease Study 2011. Australian Burden of Disease Study series no. 12. Cat. no. BOD 13. Canberra: AIHW.
- Cancer Australia 2018. NCCI: Distribution of cancer stage. Accessed July 2018; https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/diagnosis/distribution-cancer-stage/distribution-cancer-stage
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2015. Breast cancer in young women: key facts about breast cancer in women in their 20s and 30s. Cancer series no. 96. Cat. no. CAN 94. Canberra: AIHW.