Rising incidence rates, unique challenges, and more stats and facts to know about how breast cancer impacts younger womenIt’s a long-standing myth that breast cancer only affects older women. Currently, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women aged 20 to 49 in the U.S.Fortunately, public awareness of breast cancer in younger women may be improving. Inherited mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which increase breast cancer risk, are more commonly seen in young women. While about six percent of all women with breast cancer are carriers for BRCA mutations, the number is closer to 12 percent in patients under 45 with breast cancer. A younger woman’s breast cancer risk is also higher if she:Has one or more family members who: was diagnosed with breast cancer before 50 had cancer in both breasts had breast cancer as a man had ovarian, pancreatic, metastatic prostate cancer had TNBCHad her first menstrual period before age 12.

Source: Washington Post May 02, 2024 15:51 UTC