The World Health Organization has released its fact-sheets about breast cancer which remains one of the world’s most common cancers among women, with an estimated 2.4 million women diagnosed with the disease and 694,000 deaths recorded globally in 2024.

WHO says breast cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in 164 of 186 countries in 2024.

WHO says around 80% of breast cancers occur in women with no specific risk factors other than sex and age, highlighting the importance of awareness and early detection.

While breast cancer mainly affects women, men can also develop the disease, with an estimated 0.5-1% of breast cancers occurring in men.

Breast cancer develops when abnormal cells in the breast grow uncontrollably and form tumours. If not detected and treated, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body and become life-threatening.

WHO identifies increasing age, obesity, harmful use of alcohol, family history, radiation exposure, reproductive history, tobacco use and postmenopausal hormone therapy among factors that can increase the risk of breast cancer.

Common symptoms include a breast lump or thickening, changes in the size, shape or appearance of the breast, dimpling or redness of the skin, changes to the nipple or surrounding skin, and abnormal or bloody discharge from the nipple.

WHO urges people with an abnormal breast lump to seek medical care, even when the lump is not painful. Most breast lumps are not cancerous, but cancerous lumps are more likely to be successfully treated when detected while they are small and before they spread to nearby lymph nodes.

The WHO says early detection and timely treatment are essential to reducing breast cancer deaths. Early detection includes awareness of symptoms, seeking medical advice, timely clinical evaluation and diagnosis, and referral for treatment.

Treatment depends on the type and stage of breast cancer and may include surgery, radiation therapy and medicines such as hormone therapy, chemotherapy or targeted biological therapies. WHO says treatment is generally more effective and better tolerated when started early and completed.

WHO also highlights the importance of access to multidisciplinary care, including oncology, radiology, pathology, nutrition, physical therapy, social work, mental health, palliative care and rehabilitation services.

The global health agency says strengthening health systems and establishing reliable referral pathways from primary healthcare facilities to hospitals and dedicated cancer centres are important for improving breast cancer outcomes.

In 2021, WHO established the Global Breast Cancer Initiative, with a goal of reducing global breast cancer mortality by 2.5 percent each year and averting 2.5 million breast cancer deaths globally by 2040.

The initiative focuses on three main areas: health promotion for early detection, timely diagnosis and comprehensive breast cancer management.