Breast Cancer

Introduction

Cancer Research UK provides a brief guide to breast cancer that includes information about symptoms, early detection, screening for breast cancer and possible risk factors.

Facts and figures

Incidence of breast cancer

Incidence is defined as the number of new cases identified in a given period of time.

In Blackpool each year there are approximately 121 new cases of breast cancer identified. Figure 1 shows the trend in the cancer incidence rate in Blackpool and England. The incidence rate (in this case per 100,000 population) is calculated to allow comparison between geographies of different population sizes and with different age make ups.

Breast cancer incidence has dropped both nationally and locally. This is likely to be due to the reduced screening since the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparatively, breast cancer incidence in Blackpool is similar to the national incidence rate.

Figure 1 - incidence of breast cancer - 2001-2020 annual trend

Source: Cancer registration statistics - NDRS (as of March 2025)

Mortality from breast cancer

Each year in Blackpool there are approximately 82 deaths (female, all ages) due to breast cancer. The directly standardised mortality rate (in this case per 100,000 population) is calculated to allow comparison between geographies of different population sizes and with different age make ups. Between 2021-2023 the rate of breast cancer deaths in Blackpool (per 100,000, female, all ages) was 35.1, higher than the England rate of 30.5, but not significantly different. Lifestyle factors and other wider determinants of health are not significant risks in developing breast cancer, and most geographical areas across England have similar rates of breast cancer mortality.

Breast cancer survival rates

Cancer survival rates are estimates of the percentage of people still alive after a diagnosis, over a specific time period. It usually only refers to primary cancers and does not include secondary cancers or recurrences.

The one-year breast cancer survival rate for both Blackpool and England has steadily increased since 2005. In 2020 the survival rate for breast cancer in Blackpool was 96.3%, compared to 88.6% in 2005. Across England the one-year survival rate in 2020 was 97.3% (compared to 94.7% in 2005).

Breast cancer screening

The NHS administers a national cancer screening programme aimed at detecting early symptoms of breast cancer. Breast cancer screening is included as a local authority level indicator within the Public Health Outcome Framework. The definition of this breast cancer screening coverage measure is, the proportion of women aged 53-70 resident in the area with a screening test result recorded in the previous three years.

Blackpool achieved a screening coverage rate of 62.6% in 2024, almost increasing back to levels seen in 2020. This reflects the impact of COVID-19 on breast cancer screening programme delivery during the COVID pandemic (including the suspension of the programme in March 2020), and the reduced number of women presenting for breast screening over the COVID period.¹ This reduced uptake between 2021 and 2023 may have an impact on both breast cancer incidence and mortality over the coming years.²

Figure 3 illustrates that eligible women living in Blackpool are significantly less likely to be screened for breast cancer than in the North West region or England as a whole.

Figure 3 - breast cancer screening coverage

National and local strategies (current best practices)

• • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provide guidance, advice, NICE Pathways and quality standards on breast cancer 

Risk factors

Cancer Research UK has compiled a summary of risk factors and causes of breast cancer.

 [1] NHS Digital (2022) NHS Breast Cancer Screening Programme, England, 2020-21: COVID-19 impact during 2020-21.

[2] See, for example, Duffy, S.W., Seedat, F., Kearins, O. et al (2022) The projected impact of the COVID-19 lockdown period on breast cancer deaths in England due to the cessation of population screening: a national estimation. British Journal of Cancer, 126, 1355-1361. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-022-01714-9.