You are never too young to be diagnosed with breast cancer. According to the Young Survival Coalition, the only international non-profit organization dedicated to the specific concerns of young women diagnosed with breast cancer, many people, including doctors, are under the impression that young women are not at risk for breast cancer. The facts however are that: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 15 to 54. Breast cancer in young women is more aggressive and results in lower survival rates. 1 out of 229 women between the ages of 30 & 39 will be diagnosed with breast cancer within the next ten years. The 5 year survival rate in young women with breast cancer is 82% lower than their post-menopausal counterparts. There is no effective breast cancer screening tool for women 40 and under. Young women are often diagnosed at a later stage than their older counterparts. There is very little research or educational material focused on issues unique to this younger population, such as fertility, pregnancy, genetic predisposition, the impact of hormonal status on the effectiveness of treatment, psycho-social and long-term survivorship issues, and higher mortality rates for young women, particularly for African-Americans and Latinas. Young women diagnosed with breast cancer often feel isolated and have little contact with peers who can relate to what they are experiencing. As the incidence of young women with breast cancer is much lower than in older women, young women are underrepresented in many research studies. Now that you know the facts, take action by giving yourself a breast self-exam once every month. The exam should be done a few days after your period as this is the time in which your breasts are less tender or swollen. The exam should be done at the same time every month. When doing a breast self-exam, here are some things to look for: lumps or swelling, skin irritation or retraction (turning inward), redness or scaliness of nipple, or a discharge other than breast milk. Not sure how to conduct the breast self-exam. Watch the video demonstration by Dr. Lisa Masterson as she is featured on The Talk.
Remember that early detection is the best intervention for breast cancer. Get the facts and stay healthy. (All statistics courtesy of youngsurvivalcoalition.org./ * blackwomenshealth.com)
