While survival rates are improving across the country, 37 Australian women are being diagonosed with breast cancer each day, more than double the rate in 1982, according to a report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

 

The Breast Cancer in Australia: an overview report shows the number of breast cancer cases has more than doubled from around 5,300 to 13,600 cases between 2982 and 2008.

 

“There was a sharp increase in the incidence rate of breast cancer between 1990 and 1995, after which the rate has been stable,” said AIHW spokesperson Anne Bech.

“The sharp increase in the incidence rate in the early 1990's was most likely due to the introduction of the national breast cancer screening program in 1991.”

 

Currently, breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women, with the majority of cases (69 per cent) being diagnosed in women aged 40-69.

 

“The number of women diagnosed with breast cancer is expected to rise in the future due to the ageing population. Our projections indicate that in 2020 about 17,200 new breast cancers will be diagnosed in Australia This would equate to 47 women being diagnosed every day,” Ms Bech said.

 

Despite the increase in cases, survival rates are continuing to show positive growth, with the 5-year survival rate from breast cancer increasing from 72 per cent to 89 per cent between 1982 and 2010.

 

“However, of concern, is that some population groups in Australia have lower survival than others, such as women living inRemote and very remote areas of Australia, those living in lower socio-economic areas and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women,” Cancer Australia CEO Dr Helen Zorbas said.