Know what is normal for your breasts
Breast Cancer In Young Women
Young Women CAN and DO get breast cancer.
- Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old and older but young women are at risk too.
- 11% of all breast cancers are found in women 45 or younger.
- Younger women have more aggressive cancers and lower survival rates when compared to older women.
- Evidence supports that breast cancer before the age of 40 may be biologically different from the breast cancer faced by older women.
Factors That Puts A Woman At High Risk
There Are Several Factors That Put A Woman At High Risk For Developing Breast Cancer, Including:
- A personal history of breast cancer or high risk lesion found by biopsy
- A family history of breast cancer, particularly in a mother, daughter, or sister
- History of radiation to the chest i.e. for Hodgkin’s disease and add bullet post-menopausal estrogen therapy
- BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation: Women who carry defects on either of these genes are at greater risk for developing breast cancer.
Challenges Unique To Young Women With Breast Cancer:
- Screening tools for young women and women with dense breast.
- Pregnancy and fertility concerns after breast cancer.
- Early menopausal from treatment of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.
- Research on young women and breast cancer limited due to the lower rate in which they get breast cancer.
Young Women Need To Be Vigilant About Their Breast Health!
- Know your breasts and what is normal for you.
- Know your risk factors.
- Know your family history.
- Don’t ignore changes with breast tissue during self breast examination.
