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 that are breast cancer, in women aged 20−39 in 2020
23%
Estimated % of all cancer deaths that are due to breast cancer in women aged 20−39 in 2020
21%
Incidence and mortality of breast cancer in young women
- In 2016, about 2 breast cancer cases were diagnosed every day in young women
- In 2016, 856 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in young women
- In 2016, 87 young women died of breast cancer
- In 2020, breast cancer was estimated to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women aged 20−39.
- In 2020, 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, 2012–2016
| Age group | 5-year relative survival |
|---|---|
| 20-24 | 89.5 |
| 25-29 | 89.1 |
| 30-34 | 87.0 |
| 35-39 | 90.6 |
| 40-44 | 92.8 |
| 45-49 | 93.9 |
| 50-54 | 92.9 |
| 55-59 | 92.9 |
| 60-64 | 93.6 |
| 65-69 | 94.1 |
| 70-74 | 91.4 |
| 75-79 | 86.0 |
| 70-74 | 91.4 |
| 75-79 | 86.0 |
| 80-84 | 80.5 |
| 85+ | 74.8 |
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 (Stage 1 and 2) 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 stage (Stage 3) 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 1992−2011, 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 1992−2011, 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 2015, breast cancer accounted for around a fifth (19%) of the cancer burden in women aged 20-39 years.
- In 2015, breast cancer accounted for around a fifth (19%) of cancer burden due to premature death in women aged 20-39 years.
- In 2015, breast cancer accounted for around a fifth (20%) of non-fatal cancer burden in women aged 20-39.
Figure 1. breast cancer incidence and mortality in women over time, 1982 to 2018
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2020 web report and supplementary data tables
Figure 2. Incidence of breast cancer in women, by age group, 1982 to 2016
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2020 web report and supplementary data tables
Figure 3. Number of breast cancer deaths in women, by age group, 1982 to 2018
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2020 web report and supplementary data tables
published: Thu, 25/07/2019 - 07:00
References
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer Data in Australia web report. Accessed on June 2020 from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/summary
- Cancer Australia 2019. National Cancer Control Indicators: Distribution of cancer stage. Accessed on July 2019 from: 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.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2019. Australian Burden of Disease Study: impact and causes of illness and death in Australia 2015. Australian Burden of Disease series no. 19. Cat. no. BOD 22. Canberra: AIHW.