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 2018. It is estimated that it will remain the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2022.

In 2018, there were 18,742 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in Australia (205 males and 18,538 females). In 2022, it is estimated that 20,640 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (212 males and 20,428 females). In 2022, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 15 (or 6.7%) risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 668 or 0.15% for males and 1 in 8 or 13% for females).

Figure 1. Estimated cancer incidence in Australia, 2022

Notes

• Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 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 2018, the age-standardised incidence rate was 67 cases per 100,000 persons (1.5 for males and 129 for females). In 2022, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 69 cases per 100,000 persons (1.4 for males and 131 for females). The incidence rate for breast cancer is expected to increase with age, highest for those aged 70–74 years.

Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates for breast cancer, 1982 to 2018, by sex

Notes

• Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
• 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 5,379 (61 males and 5,318 females) in 1982 to 18,742 in 2018. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 44 cases per 100,000 persons (1.2 for males and 81 for females) in 1982 to 67 cases per 100,000 in 2018.

Deaths

In 2020, 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 2022.

In 2020, there were 3,144 deaths from breast cancer in Australia (34 males and 3,110 females). In 2022, it is estimated that there will be 3,214 deaths (36 males and 3,178 females). In 2022, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 105 (or 0.95%) risk of dying from breast cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 4,732 or 0.02% for males and 1 in 53 or 1.9% for females).

Figure 3. Estimated cancer mortality in Australia, 2022

Notes

• Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
• 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 2020, the age-standardised mortality rate was 10 deaths per 100,000 persons (0.2 for males and 19 for females). In 2022, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 9.7 deaths per 100,000 persons (0.2 for males and 18 for females). The mortality rate for breast cancer is expected to increase with age.

Figure 4. Age-standardised mortality rates for breast cancer, 1982 to 2020, by sex

Notes

• Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
• 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 3,144 in 2020. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate decreased from 17 deaths per 100,000 persons (0.4 for males and 30 for females) in 1982 to 10 deaths per 100,000 in 2020. 

Survival

In 2014–2018, 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 1989–1993 and 2014–2018, five-year relative survival for breast cancer improved from 77% to 92%.

Figure 5. 5-year relative survival for breast cancer, 1989–1993 to 2014–2018, by sex

Notes

• Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 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)

Prevalence

At the end of 2017, there were 17,507 people living who had been diagnosed with breast cancer that year, 79,720 people living who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2013 to 2017) and 243,539 people living who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the previous 36 years (from 1982 to 2017).

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.