Dana-Farber Study Finds Stage IV Breast Cancer Increasing in Incidence and Proportion Over the Last Decade

A new study from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute shows that cases of stage IV breast cancer, a common but largely difficult to treat disease, are increasing both in incidence and as a proportion of all breast cancer diagnoses. According to the findings, published today JAMA Network Open, the incidence rate of stage IV breast cancer has increased significantly, from 9.5 cases per 100,000 women in 2010 to 11.2 cases per 100,000 women in 2021. Stage IV, or de novo metastatic breast cancer, refers to cancer has already spread to distant organs at the time initial diagnosis.

• By

• May 12, 2026

• 3 min

• Dana-Farber