Why breast cancer?

Breast Cancer Campaign’s mission is to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure. Currently, it supports 98 research projects, worth over £12.3 million in 49 locations throughout the UK.

Statistics and breast cancer facts

In the UK

• Breast cancer is the most common cancer and accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women
• One woman in nine will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime
• Breast cancer is the second biggest cause of death from cancer in women

Every year

• Over 45,500 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer
• Around 12,500 women will die from breast cancer

Every month

• Nearly 3,800 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer
• Over 1000 women will die from breast cancer

Survival rates

Are improving, of women diagnosed with breast cancer in England and Wales between 1996- 1999, 77.5 per cent were alive five years later, compared with 52 per cent of women diagnosed between 1971-1975 For women diagnosed in Scotland and Northern Ireland between 1996-1999 the five year survival rates are 79.7 and 81.5 per cent respectively

Age

• Is the biggest risk factor
• Approximately 80 per cent of all breast cancers occur in post-menopausal women
• Around 8,800 pre-menopausal women are diagnosed with the disease each year

Men (in the UK)

• Can also suffer from breast cancer, although it is rare, roughly 300 men are diagnosed each year
• Approximately 70 men a year die from breast cancer