Data Up to Date as of:
On This Page:
In 2017, the rate of new regional and distant stage breast cancer cases was 42.3 per 100,000 females.
Introduction
Cancers can be diagnosed at different stages in their development. Stage of cancer diagnosis may be expressed as numbers (for example, I, II, III, or IV) or by terms such as “localized,” “regional,” and “distant.” The lower the number or the more localized the cancer, the better a person’s chances of benefiting from treatment.
Tracking the rates of late-stage (distant) cancers is a good way to monitor the impact of cancer screening. When more cancers are detected in early stages, fewer should be detected in late stages.
Both rates of late stage disease and stage proportions are provided below since each has a somewhat different interpretation. For example, rates could be declining among all stages of disease, but the proportion of late stage disease among diagnosed cases could be relatively constant.
Measure
Late-stage diagnosis rate: The number of new cancer cases diagnosed at a distant stage per 100,000 people per year for cancers of the prostate, lung and bronchus, colon, rectum, and cervix uteri. Late stage is defined as regional and distant stage diagnoses, per 100,000 women per year for cancer of the female breast.
Stage Distribution: The proportion of new cancer cases among all cases diagnosed in a specific year. The full distribution of all stages (local, regional, distant and unstaged/unknown) is shown.
Healthy People 2020 Target
- Healthy People 2020 has only one target for late-stage diagnoses: to reduce the number of new late-stage female breast cancer cases to 42.1 per 100,000 females. Healthy People 2020 also includes targets for increasing the proportion of adults who are screened for cervical, colorectal, and breast cancer, and for increasing the proportion of men who are counseled about prostate-specific screening tests. These screenings may increase the proportion of adults whose cancer is detected in its early stage.
Healthy People 2020 is a set of goals set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Note: Goals are indicated as blue line on Detailed Trend Graphs.
Data Source
SEER Program, National Cancer Institute, 2000–2017.
Trends and Most Recent Estimates
Late Stage Breast Cancer Rates
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delay Rate per 100,000 | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Late Stage Breast Cancer
|
42.3 | 41.8 - 42.8 |
Distant Stage Cancer Rates
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delay Rate per 100,000 | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Colon
|
5.7 | 5.6 - 5.9 |
Rectum
|
1.6 | 1.5 - 1.7 | |
Cervix Uteri
|
1.1 | 1.0 - 1.2 | |
Lung and Bronchus
|
24.6 | 24.3 - 24.9 | |
Prostate
|
10.6 | 10.3 - 10.9 | |
Stage Distribution
Female Breast Cancer
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of diagnoses | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Localized
|
65.6 | 57.5 - 73.8 |
Regional/Distant
|
32.4 | 24.3 - 40.4 | |
Unstaged/Unknown
|
2.3 | 0.0 - 4.9 | |
Lung Cancer
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of diagnoses | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Localized
|
25.3 | 13.3 - 37.4 |
Regional
|
21.2 | 9.9 - 32.6 | |
Distant
|
48.3 | 34.5 - 62.1 | |
Unstaged/Unknown
|
5.9 | 0.0 - 12.5 | |
Colon Cancer
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of diagnoses | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Localized
|
35.5 | 17.1 - 54.0 |
Regional
|
37.1 | 18.5 - 55.7 | |
Distant
|
22.4 | 6.3 - 38.5 | |
Unstaged/Unknown
|
6.1 | 0.0 - 15.4 | |
Rectum Cancer
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of diagnoses | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Localized
|
36.9 | 5.5 - 68.3 |
Regional
|
36.9 | 5.5 - 68.3 | |
Distant
|
18.2 | 0.0 - 43.2 | |
Unstaged/Unknown
|
10.0 | 0.0 - 29.5 | |
Cervix Uteri Cancer
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of diagnoses | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Localized
|
47.4 | 12.3 - 82.6 |
Regional
|
33.4 | 0.2 - 66.6 | |
Distant
|
15.7 | 0.0 - 41.3 | |
Unstaged/Unknown
|
6.5 | 0.0 - 23.8 | |
Prostate Cancer
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of diagnoses | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Localized
|
67.5 | 58.9 - 76.1 |
Regional
|
13.0 | 6.9 - 19.2 | |
Distant
|
8.7 | 3.5 - 13.9 | |
Unstaged/Unknown
|
11.4 | 5.6 - 17.2 | |
Additional Information on Stage at Diagnosis
For the public
- Cancer Staging. National Cancer Institute.
- Metastatic Cancer. National Cancer Institute.
- Tumor Grade. National Cancer Institute.
- Tumor Markers. National Cancer Institute.
- Understanding Laboratory Tests. National Cancer Institute.
- Staging. American Cancer Society.
For health professionals
- Resources for Health Professionals. National Cancer Institute.
- SEER Program Coding and Staging Manual 2018. National Cancer Institute.
Scientific Reports
- Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer. National Cancer Institute.
Statistics
- SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Breast Cancer. National Cancer Institute.
- SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Cervix Uteri Cancer. National Cancer Institute.
- SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Colon and Rectum Cancer. National Cancer Institute.
- SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Lung and Bronchus Cancer. National Cancer Institute.
- SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Prostate Cancer. National Cancer Institute.
- SEER Cancer Statistics Review. National Cancer Institute.