Breast cancer is a major public health problem for women worldwide. In the United States, breast cancer remains the most common cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death. In 2007 it is estimated that breast cancer represents 26% of cancer cases and 15% of cancer deaths, which translates into 176,296 new cases and 40,515 deaths. Breast cancer was also the most common form of cancer in Europe in 2006, with 429,900 new cases, representing 13.5% of all new cancer cases.
Since 1990, the mortality rate from breast cancer has declined in the United States by 24% and similar reductions have been observed in other countries. Mathematical models suggest that both the use of mammography and the availability of adjuvant chemotherapy and tamoxifen as well as contributing to this improvement. Although breast cancer has traditionally been less common in non-industrialized countries, its incidence in these areas is increasing. (more…)
Male breast cancer is rare compared with female breast cancer, but if available, about 1% of breast cancers that are 
