Israel's Health Ministry Releases Breast Cancer Statistics Ahead of Awareness Month

In anticipation of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Israel's Ministry of Health has published the National Cancer Registry's data for 2023. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in Israel, accounting for approximately one-third of all new cancer diagnoses in women. In 2023, 5,565 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the country.

Despite a relatively high incidence rate, Israel ranks among the lowest globally for breast cancer mortality, indicating high survival rates due to early detection and advanced treatments. Of the 5,565 new cases, 4,858 (87%) were invasive breast cancer, while 707 involved localized non-invasive tumors. The Ministry of Health noted a positive trend: since 2013, the risk of developing invasive breast cancer has decreased by an average of 1.6% annually among Jewish and other women, while incidence rates among Arab women have stabilized since 2015.

Internationally, Israel ranks 33rd out of 186 countries for breast cancer incidence, according to WHO statistics, but significantly lower at 125th for mortality. This disparity highlights the effectiveness of Israel's healthcare system in diagnosis and treatment. The proportion of tumors detected at early stages is increasing, and the rate of diagnoses at the metastatic stage is decreasing.

As of the end of 2023, 25,466 women in Israel had a breast cancer diagnosis from 2019-2023, including those who completed treatment and those still undergoing it. In 2023, 999 women died from breast cancer, representing about 18% of all cancer deaths among women in Israel. While mortality rates have significantly declined among Jewish and other women since 1996, they have remained stable for Arab women.

Five-year survival rates for diagnoses between 2012-2019 were 92% for Jewish and other women and 87% for Arab women, with further improvements noted for later diagnosis periods. The Ministry of Health urges women to undergo regular screenings, recommending mammograms every two years for women aged 50-74 with average risk, and annually starting at age 40 for those at higher risk.

Professor Lital Keinan, Director of the Ministry of Health's National Center for Disease Control, stated that the data shows significant progress, with increasing early detections, high survival rates, and declining mortality in some populations. She emphasized that early detection is crucial for changing the course of the disease and saving lives, urging continued adherence to screening recommendations and prompt medical consultation for any suspicious changes.