Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. Statistically, about 1 in 8 women will get the disease in her life. And although breast cancer occurs mostly in older women, it does affect younger women as well in some instances. In fact, about 5% of all new breast cancer cases in the United States are found in women under 40 years of age, while 9% are found in women younger than 45.
That means it’s very important for women of every age to be mindful of breast cancer risks and signs and to take whatever precautions they can to avoid the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Cleveland Clinic offer excellent guidance on the subject, we decided to share it.
Breast Cancer In Younger Women
First, it’s important to understand what’s unique about breast cancer in younger women. Here are some of the key differences and challenges:
- Younger women who have breast cancer may ignore the warning signs because they believe they’re too young to get breast cancer, which can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment.
- Diagnosing breast cancer in younger women is more difficult because their breast tissue is generally denser than the breast tissue in older women and they’re not yet getting routine screenings.
- Some healthcare providers may also dismiss breast lumps or other symptoms in young women or adopt a "wait and see" approach.
- Breast cancer in younger women may be more aggressive and less likely to respond to treatment.
- Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age are more likely to have genetic mutations predisposing them to breast and other cancers.
- Breast cancer poses additional challenges for younger women since it can involve issues related to sexuality, fertility, and pregnancy after treatment.
Knowing Your Breast Cancer Risk
All women are at risk for breast cancer, but that risk varies based on a number of factors. Some of those include:
- A personal history of breast cancer or a high-risk lesion found by biopsy
- A family history of breast cancer, particularly at an early age
- A family history for certain genetic syndromes
- A history of radiation therapy to the chest
- A known genetic mutation
- Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
In addition to the risk factors all women face, some put young women at a higher risk for breast cancer. If you’re under the age of 45, you may have a higher risk if:
- You have close relatives who were diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 45 or ovarian cancer at any age, especially if more than one relative was diagnosed or if a male relative had breast cancer.
- You have changes in certain breast cancer genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2), or have close relatives with these changes, but have not been tested yourself.
- You received radiation therapy to the breast or chest during childhood or early adulthood.
- You have had breast cancer or certain other breast health problems.
- You have been told that you have dense breasts on a mammogram.
If any of these characteristics describe you, it’s important to talk to your doctor about your family history and these and other risk factors.
Reducing Your Breast Cancer Risk
While most breast cancer risks are beyond your control, many young women can actually lower their risk with some healthy behaviors, including:
- Achieving and maintaining ideal body weight
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Getting regular exercise
- Breastfeeding
That being said, if breast cancer does develop, early detection and prompt treatment can significantly increase a woman's chances of survival. More than 90% of women whose breast cancer is found at an early stage will survive.
While screening mammograms are not recommended for women under 40 years old, screening can begin for women with genetic mutations at age 25. For women with a family history of breast cancer, screening is often initiated 10 years earlier than the first affected relative in the family. In addition to mammography, breast MRI and genetic counseling are often recommended for women in high-risk categories.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
As important as healthy lifestyles and timely screening can be, it’s important to know the warning signs of breast cancer as well. Those can include:
- New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
- Thickening or swelling of part of the breast
- Irritation or dimpling of breast skin
- Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast
- Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area
- Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood
- Any change in the size or the shape of the breast
- Pain in any area of the breast
It’s important to keep in mind that these symptoms can happen with conditions other than breast cancer, but if you have any signs or symptoms that worry you, you should see your doctor right away.
Thankfully the incidence of breast cancer in younger women is low, but it can and does happen. So know your risks, know the signs and symptoms, and take every possible precaution to give you and your doctor the best chance to catch it early, when it’s most treatable.