In 2019, it's estimated that 1 out of every 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her lifetime; however, about one in five women who are diagnosed with breast cancer is a young woman under the age of 45 (20-44 years old). This means that there are thousands of young women all over the world who are currently battling this disease or have lost their battle as well! As a young woman myself, I'm here to tell you that you're not alone and we can do something about this issue together—but first let's dive into some facts about breast cancer in young women:
YOUNG WOMEN ARE NOT IMMUNE TO BREAST CANCER.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with about 252,000 new cases diagnosed each year. While breast cancer can occur at any age, it's more common in older women--the average age of diagnosis is 63 years old. Young women are not immune to breast cancer: Risk of developing the disease increases as you get older and increases dramatically after menopause (when your ovaries stop producing eggs).
However, young women do have some unique risk factors that make them more likely than older women to develop certain types of tumors:
- Breast cancer is more common in women who have gone through puberty at an early age, especially before age 12. The risk of breast cancer is higher among women with a family history of the disease. The risk for young women increases if their mother or sister was diagnosed under age 40.
ABOUT ONE IN FIVE WOMEN WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER IS A YOUNG WOMAN UNDER THE AGE OF 45 (20-44 YEARS OLD).
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in young women. About one in five women who are diagnosed with breast cancer is a young woman under the age of 45 (20-44 years old). Women have a higher chance of developing breast cancer than any other type of cancer, and this risk increases as women get older. However, it's still possible for a woman to develop breast cancer before age 40.
Your age. Breast cancer is most common in women ages 40 to 54, but it can affect women of any age. Your race and ethnicity. African American women are more likely than white women to develop breast cancer before age 40, but any woman can get it at any age. Your family history. If your mother or sister was diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50, you have an increased risk of developing it yourself. However, only about 5% to 10% of women with a strong family history eventually develop breast cancer.
THE RISK OF DEVELOPING BREAST CANCER INCREASES AS WOMEN GET OLDER, BUT IT'S STILL POSSIBLE FOR A WOMAN TO DEVELOP BREAST CANCER BEFORE AGE 40.
The risk of developing breast cancer increases as women get older, but it's still possible for a woman to develop breast cancer before age 40. The risk of developing breast cancer before age 40 is higher in women who have a family history of breast cancer and lower in those who do not.
Even if you don't have any family members with a history of the disease, there are other factors that could increase your chances of getting it:
- The same is true for any changes in your breasts. A mass or new lump, change in size or shape of one or both breasts, discharge from nipples and/or increased fullness should all be investigated by a doctor. These are signs that something may be wrong with your breast tissue.
- Risk factors for premenopausal breast cancer include: -Age (the risk increases as women get older) -Family history (women who have a first-degree relative, such as a mother or sister, who had breast cancer before age 50 are at higher risk) -Having certain types of benign breast disease (such as atypical ductal hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ)
BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION (BSE) CAN DETECT CHANGES EARLY ON.
How to do a breast self-examination
- Place your right hand behind your back and lift the breast of your left arm.
- Place the index finger of your right hand on top of your left nipple and make a gentle circular motion around it, moving closer to its base. This will help you feel for any lumps or bumps in this area, which could be benign cysts or tumors. If there is any lump that feels different than other tissue in this area (for example: hard), report it immediately to a doctor!
If you have any questions or concerns about this information, please consult your health care provider.
AWARENESS IS CRITICAL IN ORDER TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTH AND HELP DETECT POTENTIAL THREATS EARLY ON.
The best way to protect your health and detect potential threats early on is being aware of your body, its changes, and how it works. This means paying attention to any new symptoms that may develop. For example:
- If you notice a lump or other unusual growth in your breast--or if an existing one gets bigger or feels firmer than usual--it's important that you see a doctor right away.
- If you have more than one child under five years old at home (or if there are multiple children under 18 years old), ask yourself whether they've had any recent illnesses like chickenpox or measles; if so, could those infections have spread into your breasts? That's because when people come down with these diseases they often develop small red bumps called "post-varicella zoster" lesions on their skin which can also show up inside the breast tissue as well as other places where lymph nodes are located around our bodies (like behind ears).
If you have more than one child under five years old at home (or if there are multiple children under 18 years old), ask yourself whether they've had any recent illnesses like chickenpox or measles. If so, could those infections have spread into your breasts? That's because when people come down with these diseases they often develop small red bumps called "post-varicella zoster" lesions on their skin which can also show up inside the breast tissue as well as other places where lymph nodes are located around our bodies (like behind ears).
BREAST CANCER SYMPTOMS IN YOUNG WOMEN ARE FREQUENTLY OVERLOOKED OR MISDIAGNOSED AS OTHER CONDITIONS.
The symptoms of breast cancer in young women are frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed as other conditions. This is because some of the most common signs of this disease are similar to those of other health problems, such as fibrocystic breasts and benign breast lumps.
In addition, many young women do not experience any symptoms at all until they have an advanced stage of breast cancer (stage III or IV). If you think you may have a symptom related to the possibility that you might have breast cancer, it's important that you get checked out by your doctor right away so he or she can determine whether further tests are needed.
EARLY STAGE BREAST CANCERS OFTEN HAVE NO SYMPTOMS AT ALL; MAMMOGRAPHY SCREENING IS THE BEST WAY TO DETECT THESE CANCERS IN THEIR EARLIEST STAGES, WHEN TREATMENT IS MOST EFFECTIVE.
Early stage breast cancers often have no symptoms at all, but mammography screening is the best way to detect these cancers in their earliest stages, when treatment is most effective.
Screening mammography can detect small tumors in the breast before they are felt, which may lead to a more accurate diagnosis of cancer. If a tumor is found during screening and it is not cancerous, you will be notified of this finding and no further action will be necessary. If you are found to have a breast cancer and have never been diagnosed with the disease before, your doctor will discuss treatment options with you. This may include surgery to remove the tumor and surrounding lymph nodes, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR YOUNG WOMEN ARE DIFFERENT THAN THOSE OFFERED TO OLDER WOMEN, BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE EFFECTIVE AT CURING YOUNGER PATIENTS WITH LESS SIDE EFFECTS AND GREATER COSMETIC OUTCOMES.
The treatments for young women are different than those offered to older women, because they're more effective at curing younger patients with less side effects and greater cosmetic outcomes.
- Younger women have a higher survival rate and better cosmetic outcome when treated for breast cancer.
- Younger patients often have less severe symptoms and don't require as much treatment to be cured.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women, but it’s also one of the most treatable. The five-year survival rate for women with early-stage breast cancer is more than 90%. But when it comes to breast health, early detection is key.
EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES!
Early detection saves lives!
- Early diagnosis allows you to get the best treatment possible.
- You'll be able to live longer and return to your normal life sooner.
- Older women are more likely to have worse outcomes, more severe symptoms, and a higher risk of developing other health issues after treatment.
- The older you are, the more likely it is that you'll have more severe symptoms. This means that breast cancer may be harder to detect and treat in older women.
- Older women are also more likely to have other health issues, such as heart disease or diabetes. These problems can make it harder for you to recover from treatment.
CONCLUSION
The most important thing you can do is be aware of your own body, and if you notice any changes that seem unusual or out of place, seek medical attention immediately. If we can catch breast cancer in its earliest stages, when treatment is most effective and there are fewer side effects for patients, then more lives will be saved--and that's something we all want!
