Breast Cancer knows no limits. No boundaries. No age. No gender. No ethnicity. It can be all encompassing. Those with a family history may expect it, while others never see it coming.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and is an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer, which is the most common cancer among women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer during her life.
Although most breast cancers are diagnosed in older women, in rare cases breast cancer does affect women under the age of 45. About 9 percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States are found in women younger than 45 years of age. Many young women do not know their risk for breast cancer or ways to manage their risk.
Breast cancer in young women is—
More likely to be hereditarythan breast cancer in older women. More common among African American women. More likely to be found at a later stage, and is often more aggressive and difficult to treat. Often coupled with unique issues, including concerns about body image, sexual health, fertility, feelings of isolation, mental health support, and the financial burden of treatment and care.
All women are at risk for getting breast cancer, but some things can raise a woman’s risk for getting breast cancer before age 45. It is important to learn what factors increase your chance of getting breast cancer and to talk with your health care provider about your concerns. Below are signs to help you assess your risk for early breast cancer.
You have close relatives who were diagnosed with breast cancer before age 45, especially if more than one relative was diagnosed or if a male relative had breast cancer. You or a close relative were diagnosed with ovarian cancer at any age. 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, such as lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), atypical ductal hyperplasia, or atypical lobular hyperplasia. You have been told that you have dense breasts on a mammogram.
Do any of these characteristics describe you? If so, talk
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