OBJECTIVETo describe the current status of mortality breast cancer in Chinese females between 2004 and 2005, as well as its developing trend from 1973 to 2005.

METHODSThe data of female breast cancer deaths and number of female under exposure were collected through the Third National Mortality Retrospective Sampling Survey, which covered a total of 69 690 241 person years of females. The data was descriptively analyzed, and compared with the data of time-trend of breast cancer mortality in the previous two surveys in 1973 - 1975 and 1990 - 1992 respectively.

RESULTSThe crude mortality of female breast cancer in China in 2004 - 2005 was 5.90 per 100 000 (4112/69 690 241), ranking the sixth most common cancer death in Chinese females, and accounted for 5.90% (4112/69 667) of all female deaths from cancer. The crude mortality of female breast cancer was 6.86/100 000 (1777/25 900 856) in the eastern China, 5.91/100 000 (1431/24 225 738) in the central China and 4.62/100 000 (904/19 563 647) in the western China. The age-standardized mortality among Chinese standard population of female breast cancer in urban area (4.91/100 000, 1899 death cases) was 1.44 times higher than that in rural area (3.42/100 000, 2213 death cases). The crude mortality increased 99.99% from 1973 - 1975 (2.95/100 000) to 2004 - 2005 (5.90/100 000), the absolute figure increased by 2.95/100 000. The age-standardized mortality among Chinese standard population increased 37.85% from 1973 - 2005 (2.88/100 000) to 2004 - 2005 (3.97/100 000), the absolute figure increased 1.09/100 000.

CONCLUSIONThe mortality of female breast cancer in urban area was higher than that in rural area, and it decreased from the eastern China, to the central China and to the western China in turn. The mortality of female breast cancer has constantly increased in China since 1973.