To analyze the patterns of female breast cancer and their incidence in Shanghai during 2003-2012, and to compare them with international data.

The data of female breast cancer cases diagnosed between 2003 and 2012 were collected from the Shanghai Cancer Registry. The record of cancer cases included the patient's name, gender, date of birth, permanent and residential address, diagnosis site or name, histological type, date of first diagnosis, diagnostic basis and diagnostic stage, etc. Data source of cancer incidence of World, Developed Countries, Developing Countries, East Asia and China in 2012 sourced from GLOBOCAN 2012 database of the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC); and the data of USA during 2008-2012 was collected from SEER 18 database from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Incidence indicators of Shanghai female breast cancer were calculated, including the average cases, median age, average age, proportion, crude rate, age-specific rate and age-standardized rate.

During 2003-2012, 41 991 new cases of female breast cancer were diagnosed in Shanghai, with an average of 4 199 cases per year, accounting for 17.23% among total new female cancer cases, ranking first in female cancer incidence in Shanghai during 2003-2012, with a crude incidence rate of 60.90 per 100 000 and an age-standardized incidence rate of 33.90 per 100 000. During 2008-2012, an average 4 528 new cases of female breast cancer was diagnosed per year in Shanghai, with 16.97% among total female cancer cases. The median age was 56 years old and the mean age was 57.73 years old. The crude rate was 64.23 per 100 000 and the age-standardized rate was 35.00 per 100 0000, which was higher than those of China (22.1 per 100 000), Eastern Areas (27.0 per 100 000) and Developing Counties (31.3 per 100 000), and lower than that of World (43.1 per 100 000), and Yellow Race Population of USA (68.77 per 100 000). During 2003-2007, on average, 3 869 new cases of female breast cancer were diagnosed per year in Shanghai, accounting for 17.54% of total female cancer cases. The median age was 53 years old and the mean age was 56.44 years old. The crude rate was 57.42 per 100 000 and the age-standardized rate was 32.69 per 100 000. There was a continuing peak stage spanned 25 years old from 50 to 74 years old, during 2008-2012. Compared with those of 2003-2007, the beginning age group of the continuing peak stage was delayed for 5 years old and the ending age group was delayed for 10 years old.

The age-standardized incidence rate in Shanghai was higher than those of China, Eastern Areas and Developing Counties, and lower than that of World, and that of Yellow Race Population of USA; Compared with 2003-2007, the crude rate and age-standardized rate increased, the median age, mean age and the beginning and ending age group of the continuing peak stage were delayed.

Breast Cancer; Incidence; Epidemiology