Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer for women in Utah. 1 Between
2019 and 2023, there were 9,758 female breast cancer cases reported in Utah resulting
in an age-adjusted rate of 126.3 per 100,000 women. At diagnosis, 6,330 cases were
localized (confined to the primary site), 2,623 cases were regional (spread to nearby
tissues or lymph nodes), and 658 cases were distant (spread to distant organs). 2
In Utah, breast cancer is also the leading cause of death from cancer for women. There
were 1,556 breast cancer deaths reported in Utah between 2020 and 2024. The age-
adjusted rate of breast cancer death was 20.0 per 100,000 women. 2 If breast cancer is
detected early, before it spreads, the chance a woman will still be alive five years later is
higher.
The best way to detect breast cancer is to be screened regularly. Breast cancer
screening is done by checking a woman’s breasts for cancer before there are any signs
or symptoms. Women aged 40 or older should talk with their health care provider about
the best screening options. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that
women aged 40–74 who are at average risk for breast cancer get a mammogram at
least once every 2 years. A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. Mammograms are
the best way to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat. 3
Although breast cancer screening cannot prevent breast cancer, it can help find breast
cancer early, before it spreads. 3 Lifestyle choices like limiting alcohol, not smoking,
staying active, eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your
risk of developing breast cancer. 4
Breast cancer incidence rates have been slowly increasing since the mid-2000s;
however, breast cancer death rates have slowly decreased over time. The decrease in
death is largely due to early diagnosis and advanced treatments. 5
According to the Utah Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2024 data,
68.5% of adult women aged 40–74 had a mammogram in the past 2 years in Utah;
compared to 74.7% in the U.S. Figure 2 shows that these groups of women in Utah are
less likely to get screened: ages 40–49, have less education, live in frontier areas, have
an annual income less than $50,000, are uninsured or are living in poverty.
You can find out if you or someone you know qualifies for free or low-cost screenings by
visiting cancer.utah.gov. In FY2026, the Utah Breast and Cervical
Cancer Screening Program helped 8,440 women receive breast cancer screening
services.
1. Utah Cancer Registry Database. Retrieved on August 17, 2026 from Utah Department of Health
and Human Services, Division of Data, Systems, and Evaluation, Indicator-Based Information
System for Public Health website: https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/secure/query/builder/ucr/UCRCntyICD02/County.html
2. U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. U.S. Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations Tool. U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
National Cancer Institute; https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dataviz, released in June 2026.
3. Screening for Breast Cancer. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cancer/screening/index.html
4. 10 Ways to Help Prevent Breast Cancer and Reduce Your Risk. Breast Cancer Research
Foundation. https://www.bcrf.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-prevention-risk-reduction/
5. Key Statistics for Breast Cancer. American Cancer Society.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/key-statistics.html
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