Retrospective cross-sectional study of age at first breast cancer diagnosis in Germany in 2010 compared with 2022

Recent studies indicated a rising worldwide incidence of breast cancer in patients before the age 50 years (early-onset breast cancer). A retrospective cross-sectional study in Germany investigated the age at first breast cancer diagnosis in 2010 and 2022. Both in general practices and gynecological practices age at first diagnosis was significantly higher in 2022 compared with 2010. Early-onset breast cancer decreased for 2010 to 2022, while the proportion of new breast cancer diagnoses in the age group 50-65 increased in gynecological practices but not in general practices. The authors conclude that these observations can be interpreted in light of the effects of the German population-based screening program (biennial screening for women 50 to 69 years of age) which had been rolled out nationwide by 2009.