2017 Breast Cancer Facts and Figures

Save the “ta-tas.” Stand up to cancer. However you want to say it, we need to do it. A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every two minutes in the U.S. And the disease robs us of more than 40,000 daughters, wives and mothers every year.

Fortunately, things are improving, as illustrated by a five-year survival rate that has surpassed 90%. But breast cancer still takes quite a toll on us, in all aspects of the word. Financially, a breast cancer diagnosis equates to nearly $20,000 in extra health care costs each year. Lost productivity also robs the economy of billions. And that’s one reason why we’re spending millions in search of a cure.

Raising awareness is another key cog in our societal effort to stand up to cancer. So, WalletHub assembled the following infographic to help you learn more about the disease, its impact and the biggest risk factors. We also hosted a Q&A with a panel of experts, whose comments on breast cancer’s many costs can be found at the bottom of the page.

Ask the Experts: Breast Cancer Costs

For more insights into the many ways that breast cancer affects all of our lives, WalletHub posed the following questions to a panel of experts. You can check out their bios and responses below.

1. What are the signs that someone might have breast cancer?
2. What steps can someone take today to help reduce breast cancer risk?
3. What should state and local authorities do to raise awareness about breast cancer and the need for screening?
4. How should metastatic breast cancer be treated differently than other types of breast cancer?
5. Why do you think fundraising to support breast cancer treatment and research has been more successful than campaigns linked to other medical conditions?
6. Should breast reconstruction following a mastectomy/lumpectomy be covered by all health insurance plans and Medicaid under law? What about psychological counseling?