A plain-language guide to understanding breast cancer — the statistics, the signs, the screening, and the breakthrough technology changing outcomes in the UK.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. Over 58,253 people are diagnosed every year — that is roughly 160 every single day. [Cancer Research UK]
Around 11,200 people in the UK die from breast cancer each year — 31 every day. [Cancer Research UK]
The five-year survival rate for Stage 1 breast cancer is 100%. By Stage 4, that figure falls to 25%. The difference is in detection, as early as possible. [Cancer Research UK – Survival]
In women, breast cancer accounts for 30% of all new female cancer diagnoses in the UK. [Cancer Research UK]
The Numbers You Need to Know
Breast cancer costs the UK economy as much as £3.2 billion in 2025, with wellbeing costs estimated at a further £20.2 billion. [Breast Cancer Now 2025]
Since the early 1970s, breast cancer mortality rates have decreased by almost half (46%) in the UK—a testament to improved awareness, earlier detection, and better treatment. [Cancer Research UK]
Three in four (76.6%) females diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK are predicted to survive for ten years or more. [Cancer Research UK]
Why Early Detection Changes Everything
When breast cancer is caught at Stage 0 or Stage 1, survival rates are close to 99%. By Stage 3, that falls to around 72%, and at Stage 4 the cancer is no longer curable — only manageable. [Cancer Research UK – Survival]
Here is a simple breakdown of breast cancer survival by stage:
- Stage 1: ~99% five-year survival — most curable [Cancer Research UK]
- Stage 2: ~90% five-year survival — highly treatable [Cancer Research UK]
- Stage 3: ~70% five-year survival — complex treatment required [Cancer Research UK]
- Stage 4: ~25% five-year survival — managed, not cured [Cancer Research UK]
The UK’s five-year survival rate of 86% still lags behind the United States (90.2%), Australia (89.5%), and Japan (89.4%). [Nuffield Trust]
NHS Breast Screening: Progress and the Gaps That Remain
In 2024–25, the NHS Breast Screening Programme screened 2.15 million women — a 10% increase from the previous year. [NHS Digital]
19,291 breast cancers were detected through screening in 2024–25 — a 16% rise compared to the 16,677 found the year before. [NHS Digital] [Hospital Healthcare Europe]
Despite this progress, approximately 3 in 10 women who were invited for a mammogram still did not attend. [Hospital Healthcare Europe]
Breast Cancer Now estimates that if screening reached the 80% target, an additional 2,228 breast cancers could have been found in 2024–25 alone. [Hospital Healthcare Europe]
Know the Signs: What to Look For
In 2024, 45% of UK women said they do not regularly check their breasts — a four-year high. [Breast Cancer Now]
11% of women reported never having checked their breasts at all. [Breast Cancer Now]
Key warning signs to watch for include:
- A new lump or thickening in the breast or armpit
- Changes in the size, shape, or feel of a breast
- Skin puckering, dimpling, or an orange-peel texture (peau d’orange)
- Nipple changes — turning inward, discharge, or a rash/crust that does not heal
- Unexplained, persistent pain in one breast or armpit
These symptoms are listed in full by Cancer Research UK and NICE Guideline NG101. [Cancer Research UK – Symptoms] [NICE NG101]
The Problem With Traditional Mammography
Standard mammography misses up to 30% of cancers overall. [Koning Health]
In women with dense breast tissue, that figure rises to as high as 70% — because dense tissue and tumours both appear white on a 2D scan. [Koning Health]
Dense tissue is not only harder to image — it is also associated with a higher risk of breast cancer itself. [Euronoxx – Koning VERA]
A Breakthrough in Breast Imaging: The Koning VERA Breast CT
Euronoxx Medical Group is the exclusive UK distributor of the Koning VERA Breast CT (KBCT) — a revolutionary 3D imaging system designed to find what mammography misses. [Euronoxx Medical Group]
What makes the Koning VERA different?
- True 360° 3D isotropic imaging in just 7 seconds [Koning Health]
- No compression — completely pain-free [Euronoxx – Koning VERA]
- Detects tumours as small as 2mm and calcifications of 200 microns [Koning Health]
- Ideal for dense breast tissue — overcomes the core weakness of standard mammography [Euronoxx – Koning VERA]
- Radiation dose comparable to a standard mammogram [Koning Health]
- Biopsy-ready: 3D guided biopsies in ~15 minutes, no extra device needed [Euronoxx – Koning VERA]
By providing clearer, more comfortable, and more accurate imaging, the Koning VERA helps clinicians detect cancers that would otherwise be missed — and at a stage when they are most treatable. [Euronoxx Medical Group]
Know Your Risk Factors
While breast cancer can affect anyone, certain factors increase the risk:
- Age — risk increases significantly after 50
- Family history and BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutations
- Dense breast tissue — harder to screen with traditional methods
- Long-term HRT use, excess alcohol consumption, and being overweight
- Physical inactivity — regular exercise helps lower risk
Risk factors are detailed extensively by Breast Cancer Now and Cancer Research UK. [Breast Cancer Now – Risk Factors] [Cancer Research UK]
What You Can Do Right Now
1. Check yourself monthly: Set a reminder. Know your normal. Report any changes to your GP without delay.
2. Attend your NHS screening invitation: When the letter arrives, make the appointment. The NHS two-week-wait ensures urgent concerns are assessed quickly.
3. Speak to your GP if anything changes: Never dismiss a new symptom as nothing. Early conversations save lives.
4. Ask about advanced imaging: If you have dense breasts or a high-risk /..profile, ask your doctor about whether the Koning VERA Breast CT scan is appropriate for you.
Breast cancer is survivable. With the right knowledge, the right technology, and the courage to act quickly, thousands more lives can be saved every year.