Source: Beaulieu, N., D. Bloom, et al. (2009). Breakaway: The global burden of cancer -

- challenges and opportunities. New York, Economist Intelligence Unit Limited. 

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women today (after lung

cancer) and is the most common cancer among women, excluding nonmelanoma skin

cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, about 1.3 million women will be

diagnosed with breast cancer annually worldwide and about 465,000 will die from the

disease.

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