Breast cancer

Introduction

In 2020, breast cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer type in the world, with more than 2.26 million new cases of breast cancer worldwide. In 2022, despite an estimated increase to more than 2.31 million new cases, breast cancer became the second most common cancer type, after lung cancer. Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer type among women and the most common cause of cancer death in women. It is the fourth most common cause of cancer death overall.

News & Events

Breast cancer cases and deaths are projected to rise globally

Press Releases

Breast cancer cases and deaths are projected to rise globally

Go to PDF 24.02.2025

08.04.2024 Cancer screening metrics: effective evaluation to balance benefits and harms

08.03.2024 Maternal orphans due to cancer: the intergenerational impact of cancer deaths in women (IARC Evidence Summary Brief No. 5)

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Highlights

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2024

Videos

Maternal orphans due to cancer: the intergenerational impact of cancer deaths in women (IARC Evidence Summary Brief No. 5)

WATCH VIDEO 08.03.2024

03.02.2023 Dr Valerie McCormack on the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative and maternal orphans

23.01.2023 Dr Susan Cherian on the Atlas of Breast Cancer Early Detection

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Infographics

IARC marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2024

IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention Volume 20A: Reduction or Cessation of Alcohol Consumption

1. What is the IARC Handbooks series?

2. What are the key take-home messages from this evaluation?

3. Why did the IARC Handbooks programme evaluate the evidence on reduction or cessation of alcoholic beverage consumption in relation to cancer risk?

14.12.2020 Latest global cancer data: Cancer burden rises to 19.3 million new cases and 10.0 million cancer deaths in 2020

19.10.2020 Genetic risk factors for breast cancer and ovarian cancer in Latin America: Q&A with Dr Sandra Perdomo

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Research Project Websites

Maternal Orphans due to Cancer Deaths: Global Estimates Global Cancer Observatory EpiMARKS+: Identifying epigenetic biomarkers of breast cancer risk and their environmental/lifestyle determinants International Consortium on Mammographic Density ABC-DO: African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes study SABC: South Africa Breast Cancer study PRECAMA study: Molecular Subtypes of Premenopausal Breast Cancer in Latin American Women EDSMAR: Determinants of Breast Cancer in Morocco study