Breast Cancer Statistics Everyone Should Know

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There are a lot of events happening this month to help find a cure for the disease, but do you know how prevalent breast cancer is?

268,600 women will most probably be diagnosed with breast cancer by the end of the year, and about 42,000 women will likely die from breast cancer in 2019. (It's about one diagnosis every two minutes in the United States.)

The death rate is on the decline though. According to the American Cancer Society, between 1989 and 2017, the death rate for breast cancer has declined 40%.

1 in 8 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime with breast cancer. After lung cancer, breast cancer is the leading cancer cause of death for women. Women over the age of 50 are at a higher risk for breast cancer as more than 95% of those diagnosed are 40 years old or older.

It's always good to be aware of the risks, and know that if someone in your family was diagnosed, that you have a higher risk for it as well. Monthly self-exams are so important, and keep your doctor up-to-date if you think you've found something.