While breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women -- behind lung cancer -- the death rates among Americans have been declining since 1990, according to the American Cancer Society.

The ACS found that there have been large decreases in deaths in female breast cancer patients who are younger than 50.

The ACS believes the decrease in deaths is the result of earlier detection through screening and awareness, and improved treatment methods.

The number of breast cancer incidence rates have also decreased, the ACS found. According to the organization, rates fell 2.2 percent per year from 1999 to 2005. The ACS thinks this decrease is due in part to less use of hormone replacement therapy.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among American women, behind skin cancers. According to the ACS, women have about a 12 percent chance of developing invasive breast cancer in their lifetime.

The ACS estimates that 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States in 2009, in addition to 62,280 non-invasive diagnoses.

According to the ACS, there are currently about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.