Breast Cancer Survival Rate in Singapore and Other Statistics

Survival Rate and Other Top Statistics for Breast Cancer in Singapore

When a patient or a loved one is diagnosed with breast cancer, one of the key statistics they would want to know is the survival rate. Here are 5 key breast cancer statistics (relevant to the Singapore context) you should be aware of:

1. The five-year Age-Standardised Relative Survival rate (ASRS) for breast cancer in females improved from 49.9% in 1973-1977 to 82.1% in 2015-2019.
2. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females in Singapore, accounting for 29.4% (11,805 incidences) of all cancers for women diagnosed from 2015 to 2019.
3. It is also the most common cause of cancer deaths for females in Singapore, accounting for 17.1% (2,208 deaths) of female cancer deaths from 2015 to 2019.
4. Breast cancer is more prevalent among Indian females than among Chinese and Malay females, with it being 35.7% of all cancer diagnoses (for Indian females) in 2015-2019.
5. In Singapore women, for the 40-49 year old age group, breast cancer comprised 46.8% of all cancers diagnosed (2015-2019).

The Silver Lining

Thus, while the incidence rate of breast cancer is high, the silver lining is that breast cancer survival rate in Singapore had increased over the years with improved treatments. Women should carry out DIY breast self-examinations and go for cancer screening as per recommended screening guidelines to enable earlier detection for potential cancerous growths.