Trends in Breast Cancer Mortality Between 2001 and 2017: An Observational Study in the European Union and the United Kingdom

Abstract

PURPOSE Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, representing 25.4% of the newly diagnosed cases in 2018. The past two decades have seen advancements in screening technologies, guidelines, and newer modalities of treatment. Our study reports and compares trends in breast cancer mortality in the European Union and the United Kingdom. MATERIALS AND METHODS We used the WHO Mortality Database. We extracted breast cancer mortality data from 2001 to 2017 on the basis of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision system. Crude mortality rates were dichotomized by sex and reported by year. We computed age-standardized death rates (ASDRs) per 100,000 population using the world standard population. Breast cancer mortality trends were compared using joinpoint regression analysis. RESULTS We analyzed data from 24 EU countries, including the United Kingdom. For women, breast cancer mortality was observed to be downtrending in all countries except Croatia, France, and Poland. For the most recent female data, the highest ASDR for breast cancer was identified in Croatia (19.29 per 100,000), and the lowest ASDR was noted in Spain (12.8 per 100,000). Denmark had the highest change in ASDR and the highest estimated annual percentage change of −3.2%. For men, breast cancer mortality decreased in 18 countries, with the largest relative reduction observed in Denmark with an estimated annual percentage change of −27.5%. For the most recent male data, the highest ASDR for breast cancer was identified in Latvia (0.54 per 100,000). CONCLUSION Breast cancer mortality rates have down trended in most EU countries between 2001 and 2017 for both men and women. Given the observational nature of this study, causality to the observed trends cannot be reliably ascribed. However, possible contributing factors should be considered and subject to further study.

Comparison of Breast Cancer Radiotherapy Techniques Regarding Secondary Cancer Risk and Normal Tissue Complication Probability – Modelling and Measurements Using a 3D-Printed Phantom

“…For the high-dose region inside the field and around the field edge, let us now discuss Schneider's full model (32). Equation [2] is modified to account for the in-field region and cell regeneration between two fractions as follows:…”

“…Regarding the female sex, breast carcinoma was both the most frequent entity of all new cancer incidences and the most frequent cause of mortality of all cancer deaths in Europe in 2018 ( 1 , 2 ). Due to this importance for society as a whole, screening programmes, targeted diagnostics, and a wide variety of therapy regimes are standard today and are subject to constant testing and further refinement.…”

The Epidemiology of Breast Cancer

“…Although the incidence of BC has increased in European nations secondary to the improvements of BC screening and awareness, mortality has been declining as observed in other highly developed countries (75)(76)(77)(78). Further, studies support that a similar trend of increased BC incidence was seen across Europe during the early 1990s and 2000s when the use of hormone replacement therapy began, with a subsequent decline when the use of such therapies declined in highly developed countries (79,80).…”

Breast screening participation and degree of spread of invasive breast cancer at diagnosis in mental health service users: A population linkage study

“…Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality and disability in women, 1 and its outcomes have improved in many countries because of advances in screening, diagnostics, and care. [2][3][4] Mammography screening programs increase breast cancer detection before the occurrence of regional or metastatic spread and reduce mortality in eligible populations by up to 20%. 5,6 Women living with mental health (MH) conditions may not have shared in these gains.…”