ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the incidence, population trends, and distribution of breast cancer according to type, histological and molecular classifications, and mortality trends. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide, with 2.3 million new cases and 685,000 deaths in 2020. The incidence of breast cancer is highest in Australia/New Zealand, Western Europe, North America, and Northern Europe, while mortality is higher in low-income countries with limited access to early screening and treatment. Breast cancer subtypes vary by age, race, ethnicity, and stage. Finally, delays in diagnosis and treatment are major factors in poorer survival rates in low-income countries.
