Breast Cancer Awareness

Published 10/15/2024

One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States. Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death among women. Only lung cancer kills more women each year. The American Cancer Society's estimates for breast cancer in the United States for 2024 are: 

  • About 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women
  • About 56,500 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) will be diagnosed
  • About 42,250 women will die from breast cancer

Increased Risk

Besides female sex, advancing age is the biggest risk factor for breast cancer. Black women have a higher rate of death from breast cancer which is related to their higher risk of triple-negative breast cancer (more than any other racial or ethnic group). Reproductive factors that increase exposure to endogenous estrogen, such as early menarche and late menopause, increase risk, as does the use of combination estrogen-progesterone hormones after menopause. Nulliparity and alcohol consumption also are associated with increased risk.

Women with a family history or personal history of invasive breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ or lobular carcinoma in situ, or a history of breast biopsies that show benign proliferative disease have an increased risk of breast cancer. Women who have inherited changes or mutations to certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 are at greater risk. Women who have a first-degree relative with breast or ovarian cancer are at a higher risk.

Increased breast density is associated with increased risk. It is often a heritable trait but is also seen more frequently in nulliparous women, women whose first pregnancy occurs late in life, and women who use postmenopausal hormones and alcohol. Exposure to ionizing radiation, especially during puberty or young adulthood, and the inheritance of detrimental genetic mutations increase breast cancer risk. Exposure to the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) is a proven risk factor as well. Environmental and lifestyle risk factors which often can be changed, include lack of physical activity, diet high in saturated fat, being overweight or obese, drinking alcohol, radiation to the chest, and combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Breast Cancer Awareness

There is hope! When caught in its earliest, localized stages, the five-year relative survival rate is 99 percent. Advances in early detection and treatment methods have significantly increased breast cancer survival. Breast Cancer Awareness focuses on the facts and statistics surrounding breast cancer in the United States and is key in empowering providers to assist beneficiaries in making informed decisions about their health. The best way to find breast cancer early is through screening. Screening, most commonly mammography, looks for signs of cancer before symptoms may be noticeable to the patient. The goal of screening tests is to find cancer at an early stage when treatment may lead to a cure.

It is recommended that women who are 50 to 74 years old and are at average risk for breast cancer get a mammogram every two years. Women who are 40 to 49 years old should talk to their doctor or other health care provider about when to start and how often to get a mammogram. Women should weigh the benefits and risks of screening tests when deciding whether to begin getting mammograms before age 50. Medicare Part B covers female patients aged 35 and older. Most importantly, provider should routinely discuss and screen all patients over the age of 40, as well as those who are at an increased risk for breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Awareness and Medicare Coverage

(Please see National Coverage Determination (NCD 220.4): Mammograms.)

HCPCS and CPT© Codes

  • 77063 — Screening digital breast tomosynthesis, bilateral. (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure.) Use 77063 as an add-on code to 77067 when tomosynthesis is used in addition to 2-D mammography.
  • 77067 — Screening mammography, bilateral (two-view study of each breast), including computer-aided detection (CAD) when performed

ICD-10 Code: Z12.31

Notes

  • Report dual dx codes showing specific quadrants instead of unspecified quadrants, if appropriate
  • Additional ICD-10 codes may apply. Find individual change requests and specific ICD-10-CM service codes we cover on the CMS ICD-10 web page. Go to Palmetto GBA for more information.


Medicare-Covered Breast Cancer Screenings
Female patients with Medicare Part B aged 35 and older

Frequency

  • Aged 35–39: 1 baseline
  • Aged 40 and older: Annually

Cost
No copayment, coinsurance, or deductible.

Benefits of Screening for Breast Cancer
The benefits of breast cancer screening include reduced deaths, decrease the number of women diagnosed at a late stage, an increase in life expectancy, an increased five-year survival rates and save money!

Breast cancer death rates have been decreasing steadily since 1989, for an overall decline of 42 percent through 2021. There are currently over 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. The decrease in death rates is believed to be the result of finding breast cancer earlier through screening and increased awareness, as well as better treatments. However, the decline has slowed slightly in recent years.

References and Resources


Was this article helpful?