Breast cancer: reviewing the past to give direction for the future

Since the 1970s, significant advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Incidence rates increased during the 1980s and 1990s but began to decrease about 2% each year for women aged 50 years and older beginning in the year 2000, with a 7% decrease in the year 2002 (Siegel, Naishadham, & Jemal, 2013). Mortality rates in the United States also have decreased since 1990, particularly in women younger than 50 years. The declining incidence of breast cancer and improved mortality rates have been attributed to early detection, improved treatment, and research investigating factors associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. However, challenges such as limited effective treatment for symptoms resulting from estrogen deprivation still exist.