Authors: Courtney Schroeder Megan Stavros
Breast cancer is one of the most common and costly health challenges facing women today — but it's also one of the most preventable. With early detection and timely care, survival rates soar and treatment costs drop significantly. For employers, investing in preventive health strategies like regular screenings isn't just a compassionate choice — it's a smart business decision that supports a healthier, more resilient workforce.
1 in 8 women (13%) in the US will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.1
Approximately 316,950 new cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed annually.1
About 42,170 women die from breast cancer each year.2
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, following lung cancer.1
These numbers equate to approximately 868 women diagnosed with new cancer and 115 deaths per day.
Since 1989, breast cancer mortality rates have declined by 44% due to:3
While the recommended screening guidelines have evolved, women aged 40-74 are generally advised to get mammograms every 1-2 years depending on individual risk factors such as race and ethnicity.4
As part of Gallagher's organizational wellbeing strategy, promoting preventive health screenings aligns with investing in both health and financial wellbeing. Gallagher can help employers:
Build a strategy focused on healthcare consumerism that emphasizes the importance of age- and gender-appropriate screenings such as mammograms.
Educate employees on the importance of building strong relationships with their primary care providers.
Enhance accessibility by including preventive screenings in supplemental health insurance plans. For example, offer health screening benefits in critical illness, hospital indemnity and accident plans.
Encouraging screenings not only improves outcomes, it also helps optimize healthcare costs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 75% of adults of screening age were up to date with recommended cancer screenings in 2021.5
Life expectancy is strongly linked to the stage of a cancer diagnosis. The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database, tracks five-year relative survival rates for breast cancer in the US:
| SEER stage | 5-year relative survival rate |
| Localized cancer | Greater than 99% |
| Regional cancer | 87% |
| Distant cancer | 32% |
While the survival rate is much higher for early-stage diagnosis and treatment, the cost is also substantially less with early detection. Generally, the costs:
| SEER stage | Estimated cost (first 12 months) |
| Localized/regional cancer | $82,121 |
| Distant cancer | $134,682 |
Even with insurance, patients often face $5,000 to $15,000+ in out-of-pocket costs during the first year. When factoring in non-medical expenses like transportation, housing and lost wages, total costs can exceed $140,000.
By prioritizing preventive health screenings, employers can:
Explore options that go beyond traditional screenings:
By promoting early detection and supporting access to screenings, employers can protect their workforce, reduce costs and demonstrate a commitment to long-term wellbeing. Contact a Gallagher consultant to get started.
1"Breast Cancer Facts & Stats," National Breast Cancer Foundation, updated 29 Sep 2025.
2"US Cancer Statistics Female Breast Cancer Stat Bite," US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,, 2 Jun 2025.
3McDowell, Sandy. "Breast Cancer Incidence Still Rises and Death Rate Still Declines," American Cancer Society, 2 Oct 2024.
4Brown, Jessica. "What to Know About Mammogram Screening Guidelines and When to Start Mammograms," Breast Cancer Research Foundation, accessed 15 Oct 2025.
5Sabatino, Susan A., et al. "Up-to-Date Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening Test Use in the United States, 2021," US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 Oct 2023.
Consulting and insurance brokerage services to be provided by Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc. and/or its affiliate Gallagher Benefit Services (Canada) Group Inc. Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc. is a licensed insurance agency that does business in California as "Gallagher Benefit Services of California Insurance Services" and in Massachusetts as "Gallagher Benefit Insurance Services." Neither Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., nor its affiliates provide accounting, legal or tax advice.
