Abstract
Introduction. Breast cancer represents the most prevalent malignant neoplasm affecting the female population globally. The incidence increases with age, with over 95% of diagnosed cases occurring in women above 40 years old. Projections indicate a further rise in the annual number of diagnosed cases. This study aims to characterize the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer within the global, European, and specifically, the Slovak female population.

Methods. We obtained data on breast cancer incidence and mortality from established repositories: the Global Cancer Observatory for global and European trends and the National Cancer Registry of the Slovak Republic for data specific to Slovakia. We calculated standardized incidence and mortality rates.
Results. The highest incidence globally is in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Barbados, Fiji and Jamaica have the highest mortality rates. In Europe, Serbia and Montenegro are the countries with the highest mortality. In the Slovak Republic we observe an increasing trend of breast cancer incidence while mortality rates remain stable. Over 25% of breast cancer cases in Slovakia are diagnosed at advanced clinical stage III or IV.
Conclusion. These findings highlight the necessity for reinforced breast cancer prevention strategies within Slovakia. Aligning with the directives outlined in Europe‘s Beating Cancer Plan and Slovakia‘s National Oncology Program, a nationwide, organized screening program for breast cancer was launched in September 2019 (Tab. 2, Fig. 4, Ref. 9). Text in PDF www.lekarsky.herba.sk.
KEY WORDS: breast cancer, incidence, mortality, prevention. 

Lek Obz 2024, 73 (8): 286-290

Ľudmila KUTÁKOVÁ 1,2, Mária REČKOVÁ 1, Alexandra BRAŽINOVÁ 1

1 Ústav epidemiológie, Lekárska fakulta Univerzity Komenského v Bratislave, prednostka prof. MUDr. A. Bražinová, PhD., MOH
2 Národný onkologický inštitút, riaditeľka MVDr. J. Trautenberger Ricová.