Age at diagnosis comparison

[AlaskaAngel]

FYI, I will list the statistics given for age of diagnosis for all breast cancers, and then the numbers that were shown in our informal HER2 poll, as a way to better understand the extreme difference.

*During 1998-2002, 95% of new cases and 97% of breast cancer deaths occurred in women aged 40 and older.

*Among women during 1998-2002, those aged 20-24 have the lowest incidence rate, 1.3 cases per 100,000 population; women aged 75-79 have the highest incidence rate, 496.6 per 100,000. The decrease in incidence rates that occurs after age 80 may reflect lower rates of screening and incomplete detection.

*During 1998-2002, the median age at the time of breast cancer diagnosis was 61 years. This means that 50% of women who developed breast cancer were age 61 or younger and 50% were older than age 61 when diagnosed.

-From Breast Cancer Facts and Figures, 2005-2006, American Cancer Society

The results of our informal HER 2 poll:

Age 20-30 6 persons 23.5%
Age 30-40 69 persons 26.74%
Age 40-50 105 persons 40.70%
Age 50-60 66 persons 25.58%
Age 60-70 10 persons 3.88%
Age 70 and up 2 persons 0.78%