get healthing in your inbox with the morning checkup and weekender newsletter!

breast cancer

breast cancer in canada: stats, impact and resources

what’s most alarming about breast cancer now is the rising rate among younger women in their 20s and 30s. this is part of a larger trend of increasing incidence of early-onset cancers.

by karen hawthorne

oct 17 2024

5 minute read

join the conversation

finding a support group can also help breast cancer patients feel connected and a part of a community. getty images

one in eight canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and it is one of the leading causes of death in women in canada and around the world. and while rare in men, it does happen. if it is not caught until its later stages, breast cancer is often fatal despite dedicated research and treatment advances. breast cancer can also spread rapidly beyond your breast and nearby lymph nodes to other parts of the body like bones, liver and lungs, or attack the brain or other organs. systemic drugs that can halt the cancer growth, and surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy in specific areas are sometimes used as well – but the bottom line is breast cancer at this point is incurable.

advocates are calling for earlier screening of women to ramp up early detection and there’s also a push for awareness of emerging genetic testing that can identify inherited gene mutations that put people at high risk of breast cancer and other cancers.

breast cancer stats in canada

what’s most alarming about breast cancer now is the rising rate among younger women in their 20s and 30s. this is part of a larger trend of increasing incidence of early-onset cancers. although about 83 per cent of cases occur in women over 50, that majority is shrinking. why the younger onset, when many are in their prime, raising kids and progressing in their career. a recent study by university of ottawa researchers revealed a 45 per cent increase in cases in women in their 20s over the past 30 years. women in their 30s showed a 15 per cent increase, while women in their 40s showed an increase of nine per cent.

“possibly, this may be environmental. we think that there may be a change in lifestyle,” lead author, dr. jean seely told cbc news in a report on the study. she is head of breast imaging at the ottawa hospital and a professor in the university of ottawa’s radiology department. “women are actually getting their periods at an earlier age, and many women are delaying their childbearing into later [years]. and this may have some impact.”

what’s also puzzling is that many women have no identifiable risk factors prior to diagnosis – again, making the case for greater awareness and earlier screening.

other notable statistics for breast cancer in canada:

it’s common: one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime
one in 34 will die from breast cancer
it’s the most common cancer in women, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers, and the second leading cause of death from cancer in women
about 89 per cent of those diagnosed will live for at least five yearsthe estimated numbers for 2024 include the following, reports the canadian cancer society:
30,500 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, which represents 25 per cent of all new cancer cases in women in 2024
5,500 women will die from breast cancer, which is 13 per cent of all cancer deaths in women in 2024
on average, 84 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every day
on average, 15 women will die from breast cancer every day
290 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 60 will die from breast cancer

the breast cancer death rate peaked in 1986 and has been declining since. the reduction in death rates reflects the impact of screening and improvements in treatment for breast cancer – but experts say there’s much more to do to reduce rising case numbers.

a big part of the answer is early detection. breast cancers caught early have a positive prognosis. they are less likely to spread or come back after treatment. data from the population-based canadian cancer registry from 2010 to 2017 shows the five-year net survival for female breast cancer was 99.8 per cent when diagnosed at stage 1, dropping to 91.9 per cent at stage 2, then 74 per cent at stage 3 and 23.2 per cent at stage 4.

the chance of recurrence is most prevalent within five years, so close follow-up is important. women with breast cancer also face an increased risk of developing cancer in the opposite breast, as well as cancer of the colon, ovary and uterus.

impact of breast cancer on canadian society

when you consider the number of people touched by breast cancer, including patients and their families, employers and health care providers, the economic impact is significant. the average length of treatment for breast cancer is about 38 weeks but can often last as long as a year through surgery and drug treatments.

employment insurance provides benefits for 26 weeks, but at a very reduced portion of salary and not everyone qualifies. women typically stop working while they’re in treatment, so depending on their health coverage and personal finances, the crisis they’re experiencing can be financially tough on top of the emotional turmoil and uncertainty.

there can be additional expenses like the extra costs of traveling to the hospital and parking at the hospital. when someone has to go through 30 days of daily radiation and they live 300 km away from the breast cancer centre, they also need lodging for those 30 days. there are childcare needs and costs for medications and other items that are not covered like prosthetic bras and other equipment. some younger women may decide to freeze their eggs before chemotherapy with the plan to have a child. the drug therapy can damage the ovaries, causing them to stop releasing eggs and estrogen. it’s a long and complicated journey for many.

resources and support for breast cancer in canada

the leading associations representing breast cancer are:

connecting with organizations can help people and their families cope with the diagnosis of breast cancer. there’s a lot to learn about symptoms, treatment options and pressing issues about breast reconstruction surgery and, for younger women, having children. referral to a dedicated cancer clinic can also help empower patients with resources, counselling and expert advice.

finding a support group can also help breast cancer patients feel connected and a part of a community. sharing experiences with people who know first-hand the challenges can buoy psychological well-being and lead to better quality of life. it’s an important part of cancer care, says the canadian cancer society, so it shouldn’t be overlooked.

while research has made incredible strides in breast cancer, the emphasis on screening is critical to address growing case numbers. most screening programs across the country, for example, start at age 40 or 45. ontario recently lowered the screening age from 50 to 40 and manitoba has committed to do so as well by 2026. quebec’s current breast cancer screening program offers women ages 50 to 74 free screenings without a family doctor or referral. the program recommends they get a mammogram, or breast x-ray, every two years. advocates like the quebec breast cancer foundation are urging policy makers to lower the screening age to help younger women have access.

another key starting point for self-care starts at home, experts say, with self-breast exams. as the canadian cancer survivor network points out:

“self-breast exams provide women an opportunity to check for abnormalities in their breast tissue once a month and encourage women to contact their doctor if any concerns arise. this early self-detection of lumps and other abnormalities is currently how 40 per cent of breast cancer cases are diagnosed.”

karen hawthorne

karen hawthorne worked for six years as a digital editor for the national post, contributing articles on health, business, culture and travel for affiliated newspapers across canada. she now writes from her home office in toronto as a freelancer, and takes breaks to bounce with her son on the backyard trampoline and walk bingo, her bull terrier.

breast cancer in canada: stats, impact and resources

what’s most alarming about breast cancer now is the rising rate among younger women in their 20s and 30s. this is part of a larger trend of increasing incidence of early-onset cancers.

breast cancer stats in canada

health canada-approved treatments: breast cancer

what it feels like: ‘i will never be my normal’ after surviving multiple cancers

impact of breast cancer on canadian society

resources and support for breast cancer in canada

advertisement

breast cancer in canada: stats, impact and resources

what’s most alarming about breast cancer now is the rising rate among younger women in their 20s and 30s. this is part of a larger trend of increasing incidence of early-onset cancers.

breast cancer stats in canada

related stories

health canada-approved treatments: breast cancer

what it feels like: ‘i will never be my normal’ after surviving multiple cancers

what it feels like: stage 4 breast cancer is ‘incurable but it is treatable, so here i am’

advertisement

advertisement

impact of breast cancer on canadian society

advertisement

resources and support for breast cancer in canada

advertisement

share story