Breast cancer in Hong Kong

The black bar represents the number of women likely to be diagnosed with cancer in a given year; pink line is the total female population of Hong Kong 160 million women (population) Breast cancer 140 United States Ranked 20th in breast cancer rates worldwide 120 Angelina Jolie recently revealed that, due to her defective gene BRCA1, she has undergone a preventive double mastectomy to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer from 87% to 5%. In Hong Kong, breast cancer is the most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer deaths among women. Here we look at some facts, figures and fixes on breast cancer and its effect on the female population. 100 Top 50 Among the top 50 countries with highest breast cancer rates, Belgium ranks first, followed by Denmark and France. Hong Kong has a relatively high rate, where 80.8 of every 100,000 women develop the disease. Cancer survivors 80 The chart below shows the number of Hong Kong women diagnosed with various types of cancer and their mortality rates. The proportion of breast cancer survivors is far greater than those of lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Women diagnosed with cancer 12,489 60 Belgium Highest rate of breast cancer in the world, with 109.2 cases per 100.000 women United Kingdom Colorectal 40 Has the 11th highest rate, at 89.1 Other cancers Lung cancer cancer Breast cancer 20 Hong Kong Has a rate of 80.8, placing it in front of Singapore, which has a rate of 59.9 Survivors Mortalities 0 10 30 50 70 90 110 Breast cancer rates per 100,000 women Across the ages We take a historical look at how breast cancer has Per 100,000 Hong Kong women: affected women of different ages in Hong Kong. Women diagnosed with breast cancer Women who died of breast cancer 80.8 Overall female population Breast cancer has been on the rise since the 1980s, though mortalities have remained relatively constant. This may be attributed to better screening and treatment. 33.1 1983 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 39.8 Age 20-44 16.9 Despite assumptions that young women are particularly susceptible to the disease, data indicates that women under 45 have a lower chance of 1983 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 developing breast cancer. 154 83.0 45-64 Breast cancer occurs predominantly in women aged between 45 and 64. 1983 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 143 132.7 65 and above Women above 65 have a considerably lower chance of survival than their younger counterparts. 1983 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Discovery of the BRCA1 and 2 genes Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation was set up in March 2005 Surgical treatment Surgery is one of the treatments for breast cancer. Patients can either undergo mastectomy, the removal of the whole breast, or breast conserving surgery, where only a small area to one quarter of the breast is removed. Patients who have had mastectomy may choose subsequently to undergo breast reconstruction. However, having surgery does not rule out the necessity of other types of treatments, such as chemotherapy and laser treatment. Total mastectomy Breast conserving surgery Only part of the affected breast is removed Without implant Implant or tissue from other body parts can be used for reconstruction Breast reconstruction 1 Mastectomy breast 3 Reconstruction Pedicled Transverse Rectus Abdominis 2 Implant Latissimus Dorsi Flap (LD flap) Myocutaneous Flap (TRAM flap) Sources: World Cancer Research Fund, Hong Kong Cancer Registry, World Bank, Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation Note: Cancers of colon and rectum/anus are grouped together as "cancer of colorectum" SCMP Graphic: Jane Pong Illustration: Adolfo Arranz