Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women, other than skin cancer. Around 1 in 8 women eventually develop breast cancer, but the majority of those women are over 50. Only 9 percent of women with breast cancer are first diagnosed before age 45. However, in recent years, that rate has inched up.
In younger women, there is a higher chance of these cancers to be related to a genetic mutation – and for these cancers to be more aggressive. While providers don’t have a clear answer as to what is causing the rise in rates, they suspect an increase in certain risk factors could be impacting the trend. For example, more young people live sedentary lifestyles and do not maintain a well-balanced diet.
Screening mammograms are not routinely recommended for women under 40. With that said, there are steps women can take to lower their risk of breast cancer and improve breast health.
Having a poor diet or excess weight in no way guarantees that you will develop breast cancer, but have been associated with an increased risk. Many healthy people get cancer. Patterns suggest environmental factors, such as pollution or chemical exposure, also likely play a role and may combine with lifestyle or genetic factors.
Know Your Risk Factors
There are some people with no known risk factors who develop breast cancer. Then there are other people who are at high risk and will never have cancer at all. Reviewing your own personal risk factors with a medical provider is the best way to learn if screening for breast cancer before age 40 could be beneficial.
Two key risk factors for early breast cancer are your family history and your genetic makeup. You are at higher risk if you:
- Have a family history of close female relatives diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 45
- Have a close male relative who developed breast cancer
- Have close female relatives diagnosed with ovarian cancer at any age
- Have Ashkenazi Jewish heritage
- Have certain genetic mutations (most commonly in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes)
Understanding your family history can help you be on the lookout for potentially more aggressive cancers at a younger age.
Other risk factors for breast cancer in women at a young age include:
- Being African American
- Exposure to chest radiation as a child
- Getting your first period before age 12
- Having dense breast tissue
Having breast cancer before 45 increases your chances of having a second breast cancer in your lifetime. So does having certain breast conditions.
Take Steps to Lower Your Risk of Breast Cancer
Only 10 percent of breast cancers are hereditary, but other factors you can control can decrease your risk of developing breast cancer at any age. These include:
- Breastfeeding. Women who breastfeed their children may be less likely to develop breast cancer.
- Getting plenty of exercise. Lack of physical activity raises your risk.
- Limiting alcohol consumption. The more alcohol you drink, the higher your risk of breast cancer.
- Maintaining a healthy weight. Obesity has been linked with breast cancer.
Signs of Breast Cancer You Should Never Ignore
Most women who develop breast cancer have no symptoms when they are diagnosed, as a mammogram can detect tumors up to three years before they can be felt. However, young women may be more likely to have certain symptoms because often, their cancers are more likely to be aggressive. Also, because most young women aren’t getting screening mammograms, their cancer may be more advanced when detected.
Women who feel a palpable mass in a breast should have the lump evaluated by their doctor. Nipple retraction or discharge, especially if it is bloody, are also concerning symptoms.
What About Breast Self-Exams?
Clinical research has not found that monthly breast self-exams are successful in detecting cancer early. However, they can be a good way for women to monitor any changes in their breasts.
Women should do a breast self-exam monthly. That way, if a change is detected, a long time has not passed since the change developed.
Talk to a Provider About Your Risk
Knowing your risk factors and family history of breast cancer is the best way to be prepared. Discuss these factors with your primary care provider or OB-GYN in your 20s. Even though screening mammograms are not recommended for most women until age 40, your doctor may suggest you start regular mammograms or even breast MRIs at a much younger age based on your history.
Young women are more likely to have dense breasts, which can make mammograms more challenging to read. These patients may be candidates for supplemental imaging in addition to starting mammograms.
African American women are probably the fastest-growing population of young women diagnosed with breast cancer. They also are more likely to have types of breast cancer that are more aggressive. Discussing options for a screening plan or possible genetic testing can help detect cancer in its earliest stages when it is more likely to be treatable.
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Medical contributions and review by Suliat Nurudeen, MD.
