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Beyond the statistics: Breast Cancer's hidden burden

Breast Cancer Trials

Key Facts:

• 1 in 7 Australian women risk being diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, with 58 people diagnosed daily
• Over 10,000 working-age Australian women diagnosed in 2022 will lose an estimated $1.4 billion in wages over the next decade, equivalent to 1.5 years of full-time work per person
• While the average diagnosis age is 61, there's a concerning rise in early-onset cases among those aged 20-49, with three women under 40 diagnosed daily
• Five-year survival rates are now at 92.3% for women and 87% for men with breast cancer
• The impact extends beyond health concerns to include financial, family, and career burdens, affecting over 21,000 people annually

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Breast Cancer Trials is highlighting the burdens related to a breast cancer diagnosis that can often be hidden behind the statistics.

In Australia, the risk of a woman being diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime is 1 in 7, with 58 people every day learning they have the disease.[i]

“While we understand these statistics remain unacceptably high, the burden for individuals, their families, the healthcare system, workplaces, and even our economy can sometimes be overlooked with big announcements of data,” said Karen Price, CEO of Breast Cancer Trials.

An example of the hidden burden of breast cancer was revealed in a recent Monash University Study, which noted that more than 10,000 Australian women of working age were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and estimated this will lead to $1.4 billion in lost wages over the next decade. On average, each woman diagnosed will lose the equivalent of 1.5 years of full-time work, showing just how deeply breast cancer impacts women’s lives and livelihoods.[ii]

The duration and intensity of treatment, together with associated morbidity and mortality, contribute to the significant health burden of breast cancer. [iii] However, the worries and fears related to breast cancer go beyond health to include paying the bills, supporting families and impacting careers.

“Governments are worried about productivity in our economy and the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women means there are over 21,000 per year experiencing the interruptions to their lives, with economic implications,” explains Ms Price.

While the average age of diagnosis for an Australian woman is 61, Cancer Australia has identified a notable rise in early‑onset cancers, including breast cancer, affecting people aged 20 to 49, right in the midst of their working lives.

“That approximately three women under 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer each day[iv] is a staggering statistic that underscores the urgency of awareness, screening and early detection,” says Karen. “But it also signals an urgency to look at the broader implications of the data. We need more research into offering the optimal amount and combination of treatments that are effective, while being the least invasive and least impactful as possible.”

Wonderfully, more people than ever are surviving their disease, with the five-year survival rate for women diagnosed with breast cancer now at 92.3%, and 87% for men,[v] but Ms Price stresses that this data doesn’t capture the losses.

“While we rightly focus on lengthening life, support for the best quality of life from surviving breast cancer is also vital. Clinical trials research plays a significant role both of these goals,” said Ms Price. “An unrelenting commitment to finding a solution for every type of breast cancer in every circumstance is what drives Breast Cancer Trials. We encourage people to find out more via www.breastcancertrials.org.au.”

Watch Breast Cancer Trials CEO Karen Price and Medical Advisor Dr Nick Zdenkowski explain why Breast Cancer Trials are vital for breast cancer treatment:

2025 Breast Cancer Statistics - Breast Cancer Trials CEO Ms Karen Price 

2025 Breast Cancer Statistics - Dr Nicholas Zdenkowski 

About us:

Founded in 1978, Breast Cancer Trials conducts a multicentre national and international clinical trials research program into the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. The work of Breast Cancer Trials has improved the treatment of breast cancer, led to changes in the way breast cancer is managed and has saved thousands of lives. More than 1,000 researchers in 118 institutions across Australia and New Zealand are committed to the vision of no more lives cut short.

Contact details:

Sara McGregor

Media & PR Lead

M: 0424 591 241  

E: [email protected]