KNOW THE FACTS

Despite the prevailing opinions that young Adults don’t get breast cancer, the reality is that they can and they do.

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Here are some important and startling facts about breast cancer in young adults:

  • It is estimated that 13,110 cases of breast cancer will be in women under age 40 and 26,275 of these women will be under 45 years of age.

  • One in 20 women with breast cancer is under age 40 when diagnosed. One in 8 women diagnosed with breast cancer is younger than 45 when diagnosed.

  • Breast cancer accounts for 26% of all cancer in females 15-39 years of age and 39% of all cancer in 35-39 year olds.

  • Each year, more than 1,000 women under age 40 die from breast cancer

The Issues Young Women Face

Young women diagnosed with breast cancer face a myriad of issues that may significantly impact their quality and quantity of life. Some of these concerns include:

  • Young women’s breast cancers are generally more aggressive and result in lower survival rates, particularly in African-Americans and Latinas.

  • Increasingly, evidence suggests that breast cancer before age 40 is biologically different from the majority of breast cancer that occurs in older women.

  • Women younger than 25 may have a third type of biologically distinct breast cancer.

  • As the incidence of young women with breast cancer is much lower than in older women, young women are often an underrepresented population in research studies.

  • There is no effective breast cancer screening tool for women 40 and under.

  • Body Image: It may be challenging for some women to embrace their new body after breast cancer-related surgery.

  • Relationships & Dating: Whether married or single, intimacy issues may arise for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

  • Early Onset Menopause and Fertility: Chemotherapy and hormonal treatments can sometimes bring on premature menopause. Symptoms of menopause can significantly impact quality of life. Additionally, breast cancer treatment may affect a woman’s plans to have children.

  • Financial Challenges: Breast cancer can dramatically impact a woman’s financial stability when it pertains to workplace issues, lack of health insurance or being under-insured.