Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian women, excepting non melanoma skin cancer. While it can also be found in men, male breast cancer is a very rare occurrence. Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast. Breast tissue covers a larger area than just the breast, extending up to the collarbone and from the armpit to the breastbone.

• In 2008 an estimated 22,400 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,400 will die of it.
• Breast cancer accounts for approximately 15% of all cancer deaths in Canadian women.
• 1 in 9 women is expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime and 1 in 28 will die of it.
• In 2004, an estimated 166,000 women were living with, or surviving from, breast cancer in Canada. That means that 1 in 97 Canadian women were diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during the 15 years prior to 2004.
• Almost all breast cancers start in the glandular tissue of the breast and are known as adenocarcinomas. Cancer cells may start within the ducts (ductal carcinoma) or lobules (lobular carcinoma). Ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer, accounting for approximately 90% of all in situ breast carcinomas and 70% of all invasive breast carcinomas.

• What should I know about breast cancer?

Risk Factors

There is no single cause of breast cancer but some factors that increase the risk of developing the disease include:

• Age: 80% of the cases of breast cancer occur in women over 50 years of age.
• Family history of breast cancer, especially in a mother, sister or daughter diagnosed before menopause, or if a mutation on the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes is present.
• Previous breast disorders with biopsies showing abnormal cells.
• No full term pregnancies or having a full term first pregnancy after age 30.
• High breast tissue density.
• In post menopausal women: obesity and physical inactivity.
• Beginning to menstruate at an early age.
• Later than average menopause.
• Taking hormone replacement therapy (estrogen plus progestin) for more than 5 years.
• Alcohol, as well as the use of oral contraceptives, may be associated with a slight increase in breast cancer risk.
• The effects of smoking and never breastfeeding are currently under study.

• What can I do to reduce my risk of cancer?
• How should I eat to reduce my risk of cancer?
• Can being physically active lower my risk of cancer?

Managing Breast Cancer

• How is cancer treated?
• How can I cope with cancer?
• How can I help someone coping with cancer?

Facts & Figures

• Breast Cancer Facts and Figures
• Cancer Surveillance On-Line
• Chronic Disease Infobase
• Economic Burden of Illness

Knowledge Development and Exchange

• Breast Cancer Publications
• Breast Cancer Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Canadian Best Practices Portal
• Chronic Diseases in Canada (CDIC)

Initiatives, Strategies, Systems and Programs

The Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative (CBCI), was launched by the federal government in 1993 with a commitment of $25 million over five years to support research, care and treatment, professional education, programs for early detection, and access to information for women. In 1998 the federal government announced that the CBCI would receive ongoing funding of $7 million per year of which $3 million would be allocated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance, plus a $10 million contribution over five years from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The focus of the ongoing funding was to promote inclusive, collaborative, multi disciplinary research to support and improve evidence based decision making.

The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to support the CBCI initiative by working collaboratively with cancer control stakeholders to address breast cancer issues from prevention to palliation. The current focus of the Agency's work is to evaluate progress over the last decade, build on the many successes of the initiative to more effectively direct efforts for reducing breast cancer incidence and mortality, and also to improve the quality of life of those affected by breast cancer.

Links

• Breast Cancer Links