The time trend of breast cancer mortality in Japan.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to evaluate the effect of the elimination of breast cancer death on life expectancy in Japan.

METHODS

Time trends in the negative contribution associated with breast cancer were calculated.

RESULTS

There has been a marked increase in years of potential life lost (YPLL) associated with breast cancer among women (from 0.06 years in 1950 to 0.30 years in 2000). In particular, during the last decade of observation, the increase in YPLL from breast cancer surpassed that from lung cancer, which had previously demonstrated a more rapid increase. The change in mortality for all ages and the change in YPLL at birth from breast cancer were 328% and 377% respectively, while those from all cancers combined were 134% and 132% respectively. The contribution of breast cancer to YPLL varied from 4.2% to 8.5% of total YPLL associated with all cancers combined throughout the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in YPLL associated with breast cancer. Preventive policies should be implemented to develop strategies aimed at reducing the rapid increase in the development of breast cancer.