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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual international campaign that aims to increase education and raise funds for future research on breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women worldwide, with at least 2.1 million women affected each year. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that breast cancer accounted for 15% of all cancer deaths in women. Breast cancer occurs most often in women age 50 and older who have gone through menopause, although younger women and men can get the disease as well. Risk factors include a family history of breast cancer, genetic mutations, and lifestyle factors such as smoking, and being overweight or obese. With increased awareness of breast cancer and its risk factors, cases can be diagnosed earlier or possibly even prevented. The most common type of non-invasive breast cancer is ductal carcinoma. in the place (DCIS), where abnormal cells have been found but have not become malignant. Identifying cases of breast cancer in the early stages means that patients have a better chance of successful treatment and survival.
In Figure 1 below, GlobalData epidemiologists have highlighted the incidence rates of DCIS in women 18 years of age and older in the top eight pharmaceutical markets (8MM) (US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK. Japan, urban China) in 2020. The highest incidence rate was reported in the US with 40.51 cases per 100,000 population, while the lowest incidence rate was reported in urban China with 1, 44 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The differences between these two markets can be attributed to the lack of funding and population-based screening programs in urban areas in China. In the US, the American Cancer Society recommends that all women ages 45 to 54 have an annual mammogram and that those 54 and older continue to receive annual mammograms or switch to a mammogram every two years. Although similar recommendations are made for breast cancer screening in urban areas in China, participation rates are much lower than in the US.
If DCIS is not treated, cancer cells can develop and spread to surrounding tissues. Therefore, diagnosing more people at this early stage is vital to preventing the development of aggressive breast cancer, which is more difficult to treat. Early detection is possible through regular breast self-exams, clinical breast exams, and mammograms. The goal of promoting these methods of detecting breast cancer is to identify cases before they have developed to more advanced stages. In settings where health care systems are limited and screening programs using mammograms are not cost effective, it is necessary to introduce early diagnostic programs aimed at self-testing of signs and symptoms.
Figure 1: Diagnosed incidence of non-invasive DCIS (cases per 100,000 population), 8 million, ages ≥18 years, female, 2020.
Credit: GlobalData.
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