The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Breast cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer code C50 (Malignant neoplasm of breast).
New cases
Breast cancer was the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia in 2020. It is estimated that it will remain the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2024.
In 2020, there were 18,143 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in Australia (158 males and 17,984 females). In 2024, it is estimated that 21,194 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (221 males and 20,973 females). In 2024, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 15 (or 6.6%) risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 685 or 0.2% for males and 1 in 8 or 13% for females).
Graph: Statistic - breast - Figure 1. Estimated cancer incidence 2024
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables.
- More information about incidence rates for the most common cancers diagnosed can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer incidence’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/diagnosis/cancer-incidence/cancer-incidence).
In 2020, the age-standardised incidence rate was 72 cases per 100,000 persons (1.4 for males and 138 for females). In 2024, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 78 cases per 100,000 persons (1.7 for males and 149 for females). The incidence rate for breast cancer is expected to increase with age, highest for those aged 70–74 years.
Graph: Statistic - breast - Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables.
- Age standardised rates are standardised to the 2024 Australian Standard Population.
- More information about incidence rates for breast cancer over time, by age, sex, Indigenous status, remoteness, and socioeconomic status (SES) can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer incidence’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/diagnosis/cancer-incidence/cancer-incidence).
The number of new cases of breast cancer diagnosed increased from 5,377 (61 males and 5,316 females) in 1982 to 18,143 in 2020. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 51 cases per 100,000 persons (1.5 for males and 93 for females) in 1982 to 72 cases per 100,000 in 2020.
Deaths
In 2022, breast cancer was the fifth most common cause of cancer death in Australia. It is estimated that it will remain the fifth most common cause of death from cancer in 2024.
In 2022, there were 3,169 deaths from breast cancer in Australia (29 males and 3,140 females). In 2024, it is estimated that there will be 3,305 deaths (33 males and 3,272 females). In 2024, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 109 (or 0.9%) risk of dying from breast cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 6,388 or 0.02% for males and 1 in 55 or 1.8% for females).
Graph: Statistic - breast - Figure 3. Estimated cancer mortality
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables.
- Two sources are used for cancer mortality reporting rankings (National Mortality Database and Australian Cancer Database). Mortality data reported for cancer of unknown primary site, liver cancer, and stomach cancer in the chart above is from the Australian Cancer Database. Data from the National Mortality Database is presented in-text unless it is unavailable. More information can be found at AIHW interim guidelines (https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/cancer-data-commentaries/interim-guidelines-choosing-which-mortality-data).
- More information about mortality rates for the most common causes of cancer death can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer mortality’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/cancer-mortality/cancer-mortality).
In 2022, the age-standardised mortality rate was 12 deaths per 100,000 persons (0.3 for males and 23 for females). In 2024, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 12 deaths per 100,000 persons (0.3 for males and 22 for females). The mortality rate for breast cancer is expected to increase with age.
Graph: Statistic - breast - Figure 4. Age-standardised mortality
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables.
- Age standardised rates are standardised to the 2024 Australian Standard Population.
- More information about mortality rates for breast cancer over time, by age, sex, Indigenous status, remoteness, and socioeconomic status (SES) can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer mortality’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/cancer-mortality/cancer-mortality).
The number of deaths from breast cancer increased from 2,004 (17 males and 1,987 females) in 1982 to 3,169 in 2022. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate decreased from 21 deaths per 100,000 persons (0.5 for males and 37 for females) in 1982 to 12 deaths per 100,000 in 2022.
Survival
In 2016–2020, individuals diagnosed with breast cancer had a 92% chance (87% for males and 92% for females) of surviving for five years compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population. Between 1991–1995 and 2016–2020, five-year relative survival for breast cancer improved from 79% to 92%.
Graph: Statistic - breast - Figure 5. 5-year relative survival
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables.
- More information about 5-year relative survival rates for breast cancer over time, by age, sex, Indigenous status, remoteness, and socioeconomic status (SES) can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Relative survival rate’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/relative-survival-rate/5-year-relative-survival-diagnosis).
Prevalence
At the end of 2020, there were 17,759 people living who had been diagnosed with breast cancer that year, 83,800 people living who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2016 to 2020), and 273,618 people living who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the previous 39 years (from 1982 to 2020).
For more information, see Breast cancer on the NCCI website
The National Cancer Control Indicators (NCCI) are a set of indicators across the continuum of cancer care, from Prevention and Screening through to Diagnosis, Treatment, Psychosocial care, Research and Outcomes. The NCCI website allows users to see visual representations of data on each indicator through interactive charts.
