This report describes incidence, mortality, treatment and survival for breast cancer in Ireland for the period 1994-2009, with international comparisons. It shows that:

• Breast cancer was, after non-melanoma skin cancer, the commonest cancer diagnosed in women in 2007-2009
• An annual average of 2,800 women were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2008 and 2009
• Breast cancer was the second leading cause of cancer death in women (second only to lung cancer) during the period 2007-2009, and accounted for 16% of female cancer deaths.
• Ireland had the fourth highest estimated breast cancer incidence and mortality of 27 European countries in 2008
• Half of the women diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007-2009 were aged between 45 and 64 years
• Survival for women with breast cancer in Ireland was the fourth lowest of 20 European countries for the period 2000-2002
• The proportion of women who received chemotherapy increased from 36% during 1996-1998 to 50% during 1999-2008