title: Declining breast cancer mortality among young American women.
abstract: Changes in age-specific breast cancer mortality rates among white females in the United States during 1950-80 were shown to be correlated with changes in patterns of childbearing in early adulthood. However, for the most recent 5-year period among women below age 40 years, small declines in breast cancer mortality were observed in the late 1970's, despite a predicted increase following delays in childbearing that began in the 1960's and despite evidence of a rising incidence of the cancer. Although correlation analyses have inherent limitations, the findings raise the possibility that recent changes in the detection and management of breast cancer have contributed to a lowered mortality from this cancer among young American women.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Blot
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Devesa
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fraumeni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People