In 2025, breast cancer mortality rates are expected to decline in all age groups in the European Union (EU), with the exception of patients over 80 years old. In fact, for the latter, an increase of about 7% compared to the rates observed in the period 2015-2019 is expected. These findings come from a study in which cancer mortality rates in the EU and UK were estimated for 2025. The results of the study, conducted by researchers from the University of Milan in collaboration with the University of Bologna, were published in the journal Annals of Oncology. Epidemiologists coordinated by Carlo La Vecchia, professor of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology at the State University of Milan, believe that one reason for the increase in breast cancer mortality rates among older patients in the EU may be due to the lack of regular screening and timely diagnosis for women over 80, who are also less likely to receive the most innovative treatments. "Older women are not included in screening programs and probably have less benefit than younger women from the important advances in breast cancer diagnosis and management, including improvements in chemotherapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy including Trastuzumab and similar drugs, but also in radiation therapy and surgery," La Vecchia said. The research team predicts a decrease in breast cancer mortality rates at all ages of 3.6% in the EU and 0.8% in Italy in 2025 compared with 2020. The age-standardized mortality rate is 13.3 per 100,000 women in the EU (for a total of 90,100 deaths) and 14.0 per 100,000 women in Italy (for a total of 13,660 deaths).