Burden of Breast Cancer as a Non-Communicable Disease: Global and National Trends, Modifiable Risk Factors, and Key Policies in Australia and Internationally

Non-communicable diseases-
breast cancer

Burden of disease global
• The burden of cancer as a non-communicable disease has
been growing globally. It has moved from being the third
largest cause of death to being the second largest cause of
death and is second only to cardiovascular disease.
• Breast cancer is the most cancer among women and in
2013, incidence of breast cancer was reported in1.8
million women. 13.1million women across the globe had
to undergo mastectomy due and were affected by
disability adjusted life years (DALYs).
• The higher incidence of breast cancer has been attributed
to the increase in life expectancy in the developed and
the developing countries.

Burden of disease global
• As more aged people populate the globe the incidence of cancer is
expected to rise further. Lifestyle changes are a significant cause for
the increase. Obesity and smoking have increased the risk of cancer.
• A 16.61% increase in the incidence of cancer has occurred from1990
to 2013.. And the overall increase in deaths due to all cancers has
risen from 12% to 15% from 1990 to 2013 (Collaboration., 2015).
Globally, one in18 women develops breast cancer.
• There is a vast difference between the developed and the
developing countries with regard to access to treatment and the
subsequent outcomes for their people vary accordingly
(Collaboration, 2017).

Burden of disease-national trends
• One in eight women in Australia develop breast
cancer before the age of 85. Improved diagnosis
and advanced treatments have increased the
survival rates of patients diagnosed with breast
cancer. So it is likely that the coming years will see a
higher incidence of breast cancer and better
survival rates (Yu, et al., 2014).
• Out of 16,045 cases of cancer in 2013, mortality
due to breast cancer in Australia was 2844 (aihw).