Despite significant progress in diagnosis and treatment, breast cancer continues to be the most common type of cancer among women globally.

According to current estimates, around 2.3 million new cases were diagnosed in women in 2023. Researchers predict that this number will increase by roughly one-third by the middle of the 21st century — by 2050, new cases could exceed 3.5 million annually.

These findings were published in The Lancet Oncology and are supported by other peer-reviewed medical research sources.

The rise in incidence is attributed to several factors: aging populations, widespread risk factors such as obesity, sedentary lifestyles, alcohol consumption, and late first pregnancies, as well as expanded diagnostic coverage in some countries. In low- and middle-income countries, the increase in both incidence and mortality is particularly rapid, due to limited access to early detection and high-quality treatment.

Breast cancer remains a major public health issue for many women: it is not only the most common type of cancer but also one of the leading causes of cancer-related death among women.

Effective screening programs, including regular mammography, greatly improve the likelihood of early detection, when treatment is most successful. However, coverage of such programs varies widely across regions of the world.

Contemporary research also focuses on improving prognoses and personalizing therapy, including identifying molecular subtypes of tumors, developing new therapeutic approaches, and enhancing preventive measures.

For example, scientists are working on improving early detection methods using artificial intelligence and novel biomarkers, which could help identify cancer at its earliest stages.