Breast cancer mortality rate

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Trends in Breast Cancer Mortality Rates

Decline in Breast Cancer Mortality Rates

Historical Trends in Mortality Rates

Breast cancer mortality rates have shown a significant decline since their peak in 1989. From 1989 to 2020, the death rate dropped by 43%, which translates to approximately 460,000 fewer breast cancer deaths during that period. This decline is largely attributed to advancements in mammography screening and improved treatment options. However, the pace of decline has slowed in recent years, with an annual decrease of 1.3% from 2011 to 2020, compared to 1.9% annually from 2002 to 2011.

Age-Specific Trends

The decline in mortality rates has not been uniform across all age groups. For women aged 40-79 years, the mortality rates continued to decline by 1.2%-2.2% per year after 2010. However, for women younger than 40 years, the decline has halted, with nonsignificant increases observed in mortality rates for women aged 20-29 years and 30-39 years. This stagnation in younger women is partly due to rising distant-stage breast cancer incidence rates, which have increased by more than 4% per year since 2000 in women aged 20-39 years.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities

Disparities in Mortality Rates

Despite overall declines, significant racial and ethnic disparities in breast cancer mortality persist. Black women have a 40% higher death rate compared to White women, with the disparity being even more pronounced among women younger than 50 years . The five-year relative survival rate is also lower for Black women across almost all molecular subtypes and stages of the disease.

Contributing Factors

Several factors contribute to these disparities, including differences in access to high-quality screening and treatment, socioeconomic status, and underlying health conditions. Black women are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage and have more aggressive forms of breast cancer, which further exacerbates the mortality gap.

Global Perspective

International Trends

Globally, breast cancer mortality rates are decreasing in most high-income countries, despite increasing or stable incidence rates. However, in many low- and middle-income countries, both incidence and mortality rates are rising. This trend is particularly concerning in countries undergoing rapid changes in human development, where access to early detection and timely treatment is often limited.

Regional Variations

In developed regions, the mortality rate is higher in less developed areas, highlighting the need for improved healthcare infrastructure and access to cancer care. For instance, countries like Colombia, Ecuador, and Japan have seen increases in both incidence and mortality rates, while countries like France, Israel, and Italy have managed to reduce both.

Conclusion

While significant progress has been made in reducing breast cancer mortality rates, challenges remain, particularly in addressing racial and ethnic disparities and improving outcomes for younger women. Continued efforts to expand access to high-quality screening and treatment, along with targeted interventions to address disparities, are essential for further reducing breast cancer mortality rates globally.