Kohathite: Top 3 Cancers Affecting Women In The USA

Here are the top 3 cancers affecting women in the U.S. today, listed by prevalence (incidence) among women, and some details for each.

1. Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among U.S. women (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). (American Cancer Society)
Lifetime risk: About 1 in 8 women (~13 %) will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. (National Breast Cancer Foundation)
Incidence: For 2025, estimates are about 316,950 new cases of invasive breast cancer among women in the U.S. (Breastcancer.org)
It’s the second-leading cause of cancer death for women (after lung cancer) though survival has improved substantially. (CDC)
Key Notes: Risk increases with age; family history and certain gene mutations (e.g., BRCA1/BRCA2) play a role; early detection (mammograms, awareness) makes a big difference. (Breastcancer.org)

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed among women (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer). (American Cancer Society)
Estimated new cases in women in 2025: ~115,970 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer. (Lung Cancer Research Foundation)
Lifetime risk of developing lung cancer: For women approximately 1 in 18. (American Cancer Society)
It is the leading cause of cancer death for women (i.e., although breast cancers are more common, lung cancer kills more women). (American Cancer Society)
Key Notes: Smoking is the predominant risk factor, but a significant number of women who develop lung cancer are non-smokers. Women face some distinct risk profiles and may be under-recognized. (LUNGevity Foundation)

Colorectal cancer is among the top three most commonly diagnosed cancers in U.S. women (in terms of incidence) after breast and lung. (Mass General Brigham)
Lifetime risk for women: about 1 in 26 will develop colorectal cancer in their lifetime. (American Cancer Society)
Incidence: According to SEER data, for 2018-2022, new cases among women (age‐adjusted) were ~32.6 per 100,000 for females. (SEER)
Key Notes: Screening (colonoscopy, stool tests) and lifestyle factors (diet, activity, weight) strongly affect risk. Worryingly, incidence among younger adults is rising. (Cancer Research Institute)

Rank	Cancer Type	Why it’s high in women
1	Breast cancer	Most common in women; high incidence; strong screening awareness makes big impact
2	Lung cancer	Very high mortality; second most common diagnosis in women; unique risk context
3	Colorectal cancer	High incidence and significant burden; screening essential; rising among younger women