Facts about breast cancer in Canada from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (www.cbcf.org):

- Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women.

- In 2006, more than 22,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,300 will die of it.

- One per cent of the female population are survivors of breast cancer.

- One in nine women is expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime. One in 27 will die of it.

- An estimated 160 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 45 will die of it.

- In 2006, new breast cancer diagnoses will slightly double the number of lung cancer diagnoses among Canadian women.

Incidence by age group:

- Less than one per cent of breast cancer cases occur in women aged 29 or younger.

- 20 per cent of breast cancer cases occur in women aged 30 to 49.

- 28 per cent of breast cancer cases occur in women aged 50 to 59.

- 23 per cent of cases occur in women aged 60 to 69.

- 29 per cent of cases occur in women aged 70 and over.

Mortality by age group:

- Less than one per cent of breast cancer deaths occur in women aged 29 or younger.

- 11 per cent of breast cancer deaths occur in women between the ages of 30 and 49.

- 18 per cent of breast cancer deaths occur in women aged 50 and 59.

- 18 per cent of breast cancer deaths also occur in women aged 60 to 69.

- 52 per cent of breast cancer deaths occur in women aged 70 and older.

The good news�

- Breast cancer mortality rates are expected to decline slightly in 2006.

- Incidence rates of breast cancer have stabilized since 1993, and mortality rates have declined steadily at a rate of 2.7 per cent annually.

- The breast cancer mortality rate is at its lowest since 1950.

Canadian Cancer Society/National Cancer Institute of Canada: Canadian Cancer Statistics 2006, Toronto, Canada, 2006