Sunday, February 8, 2009

The Reality Breast Cancer Statistics Reveal

Statistics can give the rates of incidence for breast cancer in certain groups of people. They can show which groups have the highest mortality rates. They can also show who is doing the most to prevent it.

Aside from skin cancers, breast cancer is the most prevalent kind of cancer among women. These statistics show that over 25% of the cancers women are diagnosed with are breast cancers.

The stats for age groups are even more startling. For the years 2000 through 2004, 95% of the new cases were found in women who were 40 years of age or older. Of all the deaths caused during this time, 97% of them were in this same group of women.

White women have rates from 105 to 153 per 100,000 depending on the state. African-American women have these incidence rates from 68.5 to 129.8 in different states. The differences are not merely a function of the rate of the disease, but also of the rate of detection.

Women get mammograms and clinical breast exams are as little as 16.2% of women with no usual source of health care in Missouri. As a contrast, 64.9% of women aged 40 to 64 in the state of Delaware had the same screening procedures. These breast cancer statistics show that some groups of women are getting far better medical care than others in this country.

It is unfortunate that African-American women do not fare very well in the for mortality rates. While they generally have a lower incidence rate than white women, their mortality rates are higher. 90% of white women survive their breast cancer by 5 years, but only 77% of African-American women do. Better health insurance and health care can bring the survival breast cancer statistics of African-American women up to a higher level.

The most important use of these statistics to identify groups of people who need better preventative care and disease treatment. As scientists and statisticians gather their facts, many women are waiting for a better and longer life through breast cancer awareness.

More Information on Breast Cancer:
http://www.healthbreastcancer.com/