Breast Cancer in Young Adults

Younger women do not usually consider the risk of developing breast cancer. Even though the number is significantly lower than that of women over the age of 40, all women need to be aware of the risk factors associated with the disease. The diagnosis of breast cancer in young women is more difficult since the breast tissue is commonly denser compared to that of older women, making it harder to identify nodules. When they are diagnosed, the disease may already be at an advanced stage. In addition, breast cancer in young women can be aggressive and less likely to respond to treatment. Young women who are diagnosed with the disease are more likely to carry a mutated (altered) gene called BRCA1 or BRCA2. 

Delays in diagnosing breast cancer are also a problem. Many young women with breast cancer have ignored the warning signs - like a lump in the breast - because they believe they are too young to have the disease. On the other hand some inexperienced health professionals may consider the lump harmless and adopt the “expectant conduct” mentality (wait to see what it turns into).  Although there is still no proven preventive measure to prevent breast cancer, early detection and immediate treatment can significantly improve the chances of survival for women diagnosed with it. When a woman is educated from an early age to take care of her health, she naturally tends to take more care of herself and notice changes or problems more.

Treatment options include surgery, which involves removing the lump, or a mastectomy, which is total breast removal. Chemotherapy sessions are usually recommended after surgery to help destroy the remaining cancer cells and prevent recurrence (the cancer appearing again). Radiotherapy is generally used following a mastectomy. In general, regular mammograms are not recommended for women under 40, in part because the breast tissue tends to be more dense in young women, resulting in less reliable tests as a screening tool. In addition, most experts believe that the low risk of developing breast cancer at a young age does not justify radiation exposure or the cost of mammography. However, mammograms are recommended for younger women with a family history of breast cancer and other risk factors. 

There is still a belief that young women are free from breast cancer. It is important to realize that this is a big myth and early detection is important.

References: 

https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-in-young-women#outlook https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/young_women/index.htm 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27723074/