More than half of the cases occur before the age of 65 years

On average, 20% to 30% of breast cancer cases in Europe occur in young women below the age of 50 years; 33% occur at age 50-64 and the remaining in elderly women (Curado et al., 2007). It is therefore a disease that affects a large number of women in the most demanding years of their lives professionally and within the family.

Breast cancer prognosis has improved

Treatment is very effective for early cancers. 5-year survival among cases detected when the tumour is less than 2 cm in size and only a few lymph nodes are involved can be as high as 85%. 99% of the very early in situ cancers are cured if properly treated (Lee et al., 2006; Sainsbury et al., 2000). Prognosis and survival are less favourable the greater the size of the tumour and the deeper the involvement of other tissues.

Generally speaking, the 5-year relative survival of breast cancer patients has increased in European countries in recent years see Survival of female breast cancer patients diagnosed in 1990-1994 and in 1995-1999. Age-adjusted relative 5-year survival for cases diagnosed in 1995-1999 ranged from 69.3% in the Czech Republic to 84.3% in Sweden. On average, the 5-year relative survival of breast cancer patients diagnosed in 1995-1999 in Europe was 79.5% (Berrino et al., 2007). This figure may be an optimistic estimate for the pool of the EU because countries and regions where organized screening is in place are over-represented in the Eurocare working group gathering the data.

Also see Interventions.

Breast cancer has a large impact on patients

Intention-to-cure treatment may take 6 to 12 months during which the patient’s ability to attend to her normal activities is deeply disrupted. It is estimated that every day in the EU-25 countries at least 1.1 million women required treatment and health care for breast cancer in 2006.

Premature deaths have impact on the population level

Years of life lost due to premature death (YLL) is an important measure of health outcome (Lopez et al., 2006). The WHO estimated that in 2002, 60% of the YLL due to breast cancer in the WHO EURO region, which includes the Russian Federation and the countries of Central Asia, occurred before age 60 years and 82% before age 70 years.

No comparable expenditure measures for breast cancer care

There are no comparable measures of expenditure for breast cancer care and of indirect costs due to the disease, in the EU or Europe. Spending on health varies significantly within the EU-25 (Eurostat, 2007) but expenditure is not the main determinant of health outcomes, even for diseases, the fate of which depends a lot on management quality, as in the case of breast cancer (Smith, 2002). Outcomes can be improved by more effective use of resources and high quality standards (Haward, 2008; Perry et al., 2006).

Also see Estimated incidences, survival rates and trend in mortality of breast cancer throughout Europe (interactive - click on Indicators to select desired topic).