Breast Cancer Statistics

This is the fifth article in the Understanding Breast Cancer Guide. This guide was developed by the HealthTree Education Team and was last updated and reviewed on May 18, 2026.

Breast cancer causes cells in the breast to grow too fast and form a tumor. This page explains how many people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and what survival statistics look like.

For many people, one of the first questions after a breast cancer diagnosis is "what is my prognosis?" or "how long will I live with breast cancer?" It is important to remember that every person is different, and researchers are always studying new treatments. Statistics describe groups of people. They cannot predict what will happen for any one person.

It is also important to remember that these statistics tell us about groups of people, not individuals. Statistics can be hard to understand. Always talk to your doctor about your specific diagnosis and what these statistics mean for you. 

How common is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the United States, excluding skin cancers, and the second leading cause of cancer death in women.

In the United States, there will be an estimated 321,910 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in 2026. About 42,140 women are estimated to die of breast cancer in the United States in 2026¹. Globally, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer overall.

It is also worth noting that breast cancer rates have been slowly rising in recent years, though death rates have declined significantly over the past several decades due to advances in screening and treatment. Researchers are actively studying why new diagnoses continue to increase.

What is the survival rate for breast cancer?

Researchers use a statistic called the relative survival rate to understand how long most people live after a specific cancer diagnosis. This number compares people with the disease to people without it.

As an example: imagine two groups of 100 people. Group A does not have cancer. Group B does. After 5 years, 90 people in Group A are still alive. In Group B, 65 people are still alive. The 5-year relative survival rate would be about 72% — because 65 is 72% of 90.

The overall 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer in the United States is approximately 91.9%. However, survival rates vary significantly by stage at diagnosis:

• Localized (cancer has not spread outside the breast): ~99.5% 5-year survival
• Regional (cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or tissues): ~86.3% 5-year survival
• Distant (cancer has spread to other organs such as the bones, liver, or lungs): ~30.6% 5-year survival

These numbers highlight why early detection through screening is so important. Breast cancer caught early is much more likely to be cured.

It is also important to remember that relative survival rates reflect data collected over the past several years. These numbers may not include the most recent advances in treatment. New therapies are improving outcomes for many patients at all stages. Always talk to your doctor about what these statistics mean for your specific situation.

Is breast cancer curable?

When breast cancer is caught early, before it has spread, it is often curable with surgery and other treatments. Even in more advanced stages, treatment can help control the cancer and significantly extend life. For some people with metastatic breast cancer, long-term remission is possible with newer targeted therapies and immunotherapy. Researchers continue to make advances that improve outcomes for patients at all stages.

It is also important to remember that relative survival rates are measured every 5 years. That means this percentage may not include recent advances in treatments. 

SOURCES: 

1. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html