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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2013/may/14/breast-cancer-worldwide-uk
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Breast cancer: worldwide and UK trends | Breast cancer: worldwide and UK trends |
| (4 months later) | |
| Angelina Jolie's decision to write about her double mastectomy in the New York Times was motivated by the "hope that other women can benefit from my experience". More specifically, she wanted women to understand their own personal risk levels. | Angelina Jolie's decision to write about her double mastectomy in the New York Times was motivated by the "hope that other women can benefit from my experience". More specifically, she wanted women to understand their own personal risk levels. |
| In 'My Medical Choice' Jolie encourages women "to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you" and cites various statistics that might indicate a woman's risk. | In 'My Medical Choice' Jolie encourages women "to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you" and cites various statistics that might indicate a woman's risk. |
| We have collected some more analysis on those risk factors below - though this in no way detracts from the more critical advice to seek medical opinion. | We have collected some more analysis on those risk factors below - though this in no way detracts from the more critical advice to seek medical opinion. |
| Which countries have the highest rates of breast cancer? | Which countries have the highest rates of breast cancer? |
| According to the World Cancer Research Fund which has been analysing scientific evidence on cancer since 1990, breast cancer rates are highest in Belgium where 109.2 of every 100,000 people develop the disease. | According to the World Cancer Research Fund which has been analysing scientific evidence on cancer since 1990, breast cancer rates are highest in Belgium where 109.2 of every 100,000 people develop the disease. |
| The UK has the 11th highest rate of breast cancer worldwide, ahead of other European countries including Italy and Germany. | The UK has the 11th highest rate of breast cancer worldwide, ahead of other European countries including Italy and Germany. |
| There appears to be a relatively strong correlation between a country's wealth and its breast cancer rates - several countries in Asia and central Africa have some of the lowest rates in the world. Despite this, there is a considerable gap between breast cancer rates in the UK (89.1 per 100,000 women) and in the US (76 per 100,000 women). | There appears to be a relatively strong correlation between a country's wealth and its breast cancer rates - several countries in Asia and central Africa have some of the lowest rates in the world. Despite this, there is a considerable gap between breast cancer rates in the UK (89.1 per 100,000 women) and in the US (76 per 100,000 women). |
| These rankings tally quite closely with rates for all types of cancer among females where the UK comes in 12th and the US is 8th. | These rankings tally quite closely with rates for all types of cancer among females where the UK comes in 12th and the US is 8th. |
| Over time | Over time |
| Breast cancer rates have been on the rise in the UK since the mid-70s but this needs to be put in context by considering how diagnosis and treatment is changing. | Breast cancer rates have been on the rise in the UK since the mid-70s but this needs to be put in context by considering how diagnosis and treatment is changing. |
| Survival rates | Survival rates |
| Women diagnosed with breast cancer have far higher survival rates today than they did 40 years ago in the UK. In 1971-75 just 52% of women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer were alive 5 years later - in 2005-09 those survival rates had risen to 85.1%. | Women diagnosed with breast cancer have far higher survival rates today than they did 40 years ago in the UK. In 1971-75 just 52% of women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer were alive 5 years later - in 2005-09 those survival rates had risen to 85.1%. |
| Interestingly, women in their 50s and 60s have a higher chance of survival than their older or younger counterparts in the UK - over 90% in this age group survive compared to 84% of 15-39 year olds or 69% of those aged 80-99. | Interestingly, women in their 50s and 60s have a higher chance of survival than their older or younger counterparts in the UK - over 90% in this age group survive compared to 84% of 15-39 year olds or 69% of those aged 80-99. |
| Preventability | Preventability |
| According to the World Cancer Research Fund, 20,300 cases of breast cancer in the UK are preventable - amounting to 42% of all cases. The data does not include other crucial risk factors such as smoking and sun damage but only includes lifestyle choices relating to food and physical activity. | According to the World Cancer Research Fund, 20,300 cases of breast cancer in the UK are preventable - amounting to 42% of all cases. The data does not include other crucial risk factors such as smoking and sun damage but only includes lifestyle choices relating to food and physical activity. |
| BRCA1 and BRCA2 | BRCA1 and BRCA2 |
| In her article, Angelina Jolie explains "I carry a "faulty" gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer". Don't let the seemingly confusing acronym put you off - BRCA1 and BRCA2 stand for 'breast cancer 1' and 'breast cancer 2'. Everyone has those genes but if they're mutated then your risk of developing cancer increases. | In her article, Angelina Jolie explains "I carry a "faulty" gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer". Don't let the seemingly confusing acronym put you off - BRCA1 and BRCA2 stand for 'breast cancer 1' and 'breast cancer 2'. Everyone has those genes but if they're mutated then your risk of developing cancer increases. |
| BRCA1 and BRCA2 | BRCA1 and BRCA2 |
| Risks for men and women | Risks for men and women |
| That higher risk is particularly evident for women and for breast cancer specifically as this data from the US shows. | That higher risk is particularly evident for women and for breast cancer specifically as this data from the US shows. |
| Age | Age |
| Despite assumptions that younger women are particularly vulnerable to breast cancer, the average woman in the UK under the ago of 40 has a considerably lower chance of developing the disease. | Despite assumptions that younger women are particularly vulnerable to breast cancer, the average woman in the UK under the ago of 40 has a considerably lower chance of developing the disease. |
| Men | Men |
| Though 'patients' and 'women' are often used interchangeably, men can get breast cancer too. But males make up a relatively tiny fraction (less than 1%) of all those diagnosed with breast cancer. Comparing the graph below to the one above, you'll notice that even when male breast cancer rates are at their highest (8.3 per 100,000 men) this is still extremely low compared to the highest female breast cancer rates (442.6 per 100,000). | Though 'patients' and 'women' are often used interchangeably, men can get breast cancer too. But males make up a relatively tiny fraction (less than 1%) of all those diagnosed with breast cancer. Comparing the graph below to the one above, you'll notice that even when male breast cancer rates are at their highest (8.3 per 100,000 men) this is still extremely low compared to the highest female breast cancer rates (442.6 per 100,000). |
| In 2010, 397 men were diagnosed with breast cancer - like women, their risk increases considerably with age. | In 2010, 397 men were diagnosed with breast cancer - like women, their risk increases considerably with age. |
| Socio-economic background | Socio-economic background |
| It may come as a surprise that in the UK breast cancer is inversely related to deprivation - meaning that more affluent women are more likely to develop the disease. According to studies published by Cancer Research UK, several of the factors that increase breast cancer risk - such as hormone replacement treatment, or late first pregnancy - are less common among women from more deprived households. | It may come as a surprise that in the UK breast cancer is inversely related to deprivation - meaning that more affluent women are more likely to develop the disease. According to studies published by Cancer Research UK, several of the factors that increase breast cancer risk - such as hormone replacement treatment, or late first pregnancy - are less common among women from more deprived households. |
| Cost of treatment | Cost of treatment |
| The cost of diagnosing and treating cancer in the UK is high - £942m in 2010, 84.9% of which is paid for by the NHS - and is set to rise steeply over the coming years. | The cost of diagnosing and treating cancer in the UK is high - £942m in 2010, 84.9% of which is paid for by the NHS - and is set to rise steeply over the coming years. |
| Bupa estimates that an ageing population and high-priced high-tech tools mean that the cost of treatment alone will soar by more than 60% by 2021. | Bupa estimates that an ageing population and high-priced high-tech tools mean that the cost of treatment alone will soar by more than 60% by 2021. |
| Cancer treatments costs UK | Cancer treatments costs UK |
Just 5% of total UK expenditure on cancer goes towards screening. The biggest sums of money are spent on in-patient costs (27%), surgery (22%) and drugs (18%). At £400m, radiotheraphy represents just 5% of the UK's cancer spend. | Just 5% of total UK expenditure on cancer goes towards screening. The biggest sums of money are spent on in-patient costs (27%), surgery (22%) and drugs (18%). At £400m, radiotheraphy represents just 5% of the UK's cancer spend. |
| All types of cancer | All types of cancer |
| These ten facts from the World Health Organisation on cancer may surprise you: | These ten facts from the World Health Organisation on cancer may surprise you: |
| 1. There are more than 100 types of cancers; any part of the body can be affected. 2. In 2008, 7.6 million people died of cancer - 13% of all deaths worldwide. 3. About 70% of all cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. 4. Worldwide, the 5 most common types of cancer that kill men are (in order of frequency): lung, stomach, liver, colorectal and oesophagus. 5. Worldwide, the 5 most common types of cancer that kill women are (in the order of frequency): breast, lung, stomach, colorectal and cervical. In many developing countries, cervical cancer is the most common cancer. 6. Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of cancer in the world causing 22% of cancer deaths 7. One fifth of all cancers worldwide are caused by a chronic infection, for example human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer and hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes liver cancer. 8. Cancers of major public health relevance such as breast, cervical and colorectal cancer can be cured if detected early and treated adequately. 9. All patients in need of pain relief could be helped if current knowledge about pain control and palliative care were applied. 10. More than 30% of cancer could be prevented, mainly by not using tobacco, having a healthy diet, being physically active and moderating the use of alcohol. In developing countries up to 20% of cancer deaths could be prevented by immunization against the infection of HBV and HPV. | 1. There are more than 100 types of cancers; any part of the body can be affected. 2. In 2008, 7.6 million people died of cancer - 13% of all deaths worldwide. 3. About 70% of all cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. 4. Worldwide, the 5 most common types of cancer that kill men are (in order of frequency): lung, stomach, liver, colorectal and oesophagus. 5. Worldwide, the 5 most common types of cancer that kill women are (in the order of frequency): breast, lung, stomach, colorectal and cervical. In many developing countries, cervical cancer is the most common cancer. 6. Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of cancer in the world causing 22% of cancer deaths 7. One fifth of all cancers worldwide are caused by a chronic infection, for example human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer and hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes liver cancer. 8. Cancers of major public health relevance such as breast, cervical and colorectal cancer can be cured if detected early and treated adequately. 9. All patients in need of pain relief could be helped if current knowledge about pain control and palliative care were applied. 10. More than 30% of cancer could be prevented, mainly by not using tobacco, having a healthy diet, being physically active and moderating the use of alcohol. In developing countries up to 20% of cancer deaths could be prevented by immunization against the infection of HBV and HPV. |
| The World Health Organisation has also made an interactive graph showing how female cancer rates vary across the world. | The World Health Organisation has also made an interactive graph showing how female cancer rates vary across the world. |
| You can read World Health Organisation advice on breast cancer prevention and control here | You can read World Health Organisation advice on breast cancer prevention and control here |
| Download the data | Download the data |
| • DATA: download the full spreadsheet | • DATA: download the full spreadsheet |
| Can you do something with this data? | Can you do something with this data? |
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