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Breast Cancer

Cancer Facts

Breast cancer is the most common cancer of women in Hong Kong. In 2022, there were 5 182 new cases of breast cancer, accounting for 28.6% of all new cancer cases in women in Hong Kong. The median age at diagnosis was 58 years. The crude annual incidence rate per 100 000 women was 130. Breast cancer was the third leading cause of cancer deaths among females in Hong Kong. In 2022, a total of 792 women died from this cancer, accounting for 12.5% of all cancer deaths in women.

With medical advances, the cure rate of breast cancer has been improving in the last decade. Still, early detection and treatment are critical for improving the survival rate of patients. According to the Cancer Registry statistics, the overall five-year relative survival rate of patients with breast cancer was 84%. Stage I breast cancer had a five-year relative survival rate of 99.3%, which means that these individuals had almost the same chance of surviving more than five years as the general population. The five-year survival rate for stage II was 94.6%, and that for stage III was 76.2%. Stage IV breast cancer still had a five-year relative survival rate of about 30%.

The breasts are made up of glandular tissues comprising mammary gland tissues, fat and connective tissues. During pregnancy, mammary glands will produce and excrete milk for babies.

However, when cells in the mammary gland divide and proliferate in an uncontrolled way, they may eventually develop into tumours which may be benign or malignant. Breast cancer is a malignant tumour developed in the breast.

High risk factors of breast cancer include:

  • Gender: although some men may also suffer from the disease, nearly all breast cancers are found in women.
  • Age: in general, the risk of breast cancer increases with age.
  • Family history and genetics: a woman is more likely to have breast cancer if her mother, sister or direct relative had suffered from the disease. According to clinical studies, around 5-10% breast cancers may be related to genetic changes.
  • Menstrual cycle: women having first menses before 12 or menopause after 55 may have higher risk.
  • Childbirth: women with no kid or having their first child after 35.
  • Diet: prolonged intake of diet with high animal fat.
  • Lifestyle: smoking, drinking and lack of exercise will increase the risk.
  • Drugs: prolonged intake of contraceptives or having hormonal replacement therapy for more than 5 years.
  • Personal history of cancer: history of certain malignancy especially with irradiation to the breast region like Hodgkin’s Disease, lung cancer, bowel cancer, or history of cancer in childhood.

If you have the following symptoms, you may get breast cancer:

  • Breast
    • Lump of any size*.
    • Changes in shape or size.
    • Dimpling on skin.
    • Vein congestion or orange-peel appearance on skin.
  • Nipple
    • Blood-stained discharge.
    • Retraction (sinks into the breast).
  • Armpit
    • Swollen lymph nodes.

* Bloated or lumpy breasts are normal physiological reactions caused by cyclic hormonal changes, which are common among women before menstrual cycles. There is no need to worry about it. If you are in doubt about the existence of lumps, please consult your doctor to check if they are benign or malignant. Many of these lumps are benign cysts (fluid-filled sacs or pockets in tissues) or fibroma (non-cancerous tumours composed of fibrous tissue) which are harmless to human body.

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