We know breast cancer is commonly seen in women who are 50 years or older. Though breast cancer in young women is relatively rare compared to older women, we see an increasing number of patients in our clinical practice. It’s the most common cancer for women in this age group. Younger women with breast cancer experience unique challenges. Breast cancer diagnosis in a young woman, (women in their 20s, 30s and 40s) is far more devastating compared to diagnosis in an older female.
Their tumours are larger, have more aggressive biology, and are more likely to spread to the axilla (armpits) and adjoining areas. They require more aggressive treatments, leading to greater toxicity and complications, as serious as infertility.
Breast cancer diagnoses are particularly disruptive in the normal functioning of a woman’s day-to-day life, career, home, and child-bearing process.
What do the Breast Cancer Statistics Tell Us?
Breast cancer, according to the WHO, is the most common cancer diagnosis in women. Around 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. It also happens to be the leading cause of death, giving rise to more than 685 000 deaths in the year 2020, globally.
Breast cancer rates have increased primarily because of reproductive and hormonal factors. Women nowadays are getting periods at younger ages, delaying their first pregnancy and childbirth to a later age, and having fewer children (parity). Increased alcohol intake, obesity and lack of physical activity are also contributing.
Why is Early Detection so Important?
Breast cancer is rising in the younger populations. Early detection is imperative for better treatment outcomes, survival, and improved quality of life. Majority of breast cancers- around 90% present as a lump. These lumps, however, need to be differentiated from benign lumps, as lumps are frequently seen in younger female populations. The majority of lumps in young females are benign; some 60-80% require no treatments, just follow-up.
What does a Breast Cancer Lump Look Like?
Breast cancer lump in a young woman typically presents as a firm, painless mass or swelling which is immobile, solitary and does not regress with monthly cyclical changes. Benign lumps on the other hand regress with variations in periods. Breast cancer lumps persist and progress, get bigger, and do not go away at any point of time. A breast lump also feels like it doesn’t belong to the area.
Most lumps are painless; however, the presence of pain does not rule out cancer. A wait-and-watch policy is best. A lump that is increasing in size, is persistent- meaning it is not going away and is present for 6 weeks or more, requires a medical exam and proper workup.
A Suspicious Lump?
In case of a suspicious lump, a clinical breast exam done by a trained physician along with mammography, and needle biopsy can help in establishing a diagnosis. However, in younger females, say in their 20s and 30s, a simple breast ultrasound as an initial investigation is more advisable, as breast tissue is still young in these females, and therefore sensitive to radiation caused by mammography.
Also Read: How do we find Cancer early?
It is to be kept in mind, the majority of breast lumps in young females are benign, and require no treatment, just follow-up. Therefore, unnecessary exposure to radiation must be avoided at all costs.
A Breast Exam- Help at Hand
A young woman must do her self-exams of her breasts and underarms (called self-breast exams, or SBE), every month. She must report to a doctor if she finds an abnormality in her breast or armpits. A breast exam done by a trained physician is called a clinical breast exam (CBE).
Mammography must be performed every year, starting at the age of 45. An MRI can also be conducted to confirm a diagnosis. Young women mostly do not go for screening tests, as there are none for them. A good practice is to be self-aware and conduct breast examinations by self- and by any trained physician.
Pre-menopausal vs Post-menopausal
If a pre-menopausal woman finds a lump in her breast, she must wait for one menstrual cycle. If the lump shows a regression in size, or goes away completely, most likely it is a benign lump. If it persists for more than 6 weeks, is firm, progressively increasing in size, and not getting smaller with a monthly cycle, that’s the lump that needs evaluation by a physician. In postmenopausal women, any lump is significant and needs evaluation by a physician.
With Advanced Treatments, Survivorship is Improved now. An early diagnosis and timely treatment can change the course of the disease process and treatment outcomes. Survivorship improves, and quality of life is not significantly impaired. Breast cancer treatments are much more advanced nowadays. Because of numerous research and advocacy in this cancer, breast cancer has gained particular attention and its treatment options are good.
The five-year survival rate when this cancer is diagnosed in its earliest stages is 100%. When the cancer is diagnosed at stage 3, this rate is 72%. Therefore, early diagnosis is the key to getting a cure in this cancer.
We know breast cancer is commonly seen in women who are 50 years or older. Though breast cancer in young women is relatively rare compared to older women, we see an increasing number of patients in our clinical practice. It’s the most common cancer for women in this age group. Younger women with breast cancer experience unique challenges. Breast cancer diagnosis in a young woman, (women in their 20s, 30s and 40s) is far more devastating compared to diagnosis in an older female.
Their tumours are larger, have more aggressive biology, and are more likely to spread to the axilla (armpits) and adjoining areas. They require more aggressive treatments, leading to greater toxicity and complications, as serious as infertility.
Breast cancer diagnoses are particularly disruptive in the normal functioning of a woman’s day-to-day life, career, home, and child-bearing process.
What do the Breast Cancer Statistics Tell Us?
Breast cancer, according to the WHO, is the most common cancer diagnosis in women. Around 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. It also happens to be the leading cause of death, giving rise to more than 685 000 deaths in the year 2020, globally.
Breast cancer rates have increased primarily because of reproductive and hormonal factors. Women nowadays are getting periods at younger ages, delaying their first pregnancy and childbirth to a later age, and having fewer children (parity). Increased alcohol intake, obesity and lack of physical activity are also contributing.
Why is Early Detection so Important?
Breast cancer is rising in the younger populations. Early detection is imperative for better treatment outcomes, survival, and improved quality of life. Majority of breast cancers- around 90% present as a lump. These lumps, however, need to be differentiated from benign lumps, as lumps are frequently seen in younger female populations. The majority of lumps in young females are benign; some 60-80% require no treatments, just follow-up.
What does a Breast Cancer Lump Look Like?
Breast cancer lump in a young woman typically presents as a firm, painless mass or swelling which is immobile, solitary and does not regress with monthly cyclical changes. Benign lumps on the other hand regress with variations in periods. Breast cancer lumps persist and progress, get bigger, and do not go away at any point of time. A breast lump also feels like it doesn’t belong to the area.
Most lumps are painless; however, the presence of pain does not rule out cancer. A wait-and-watch policy is best. A lump that is increasing in size, is persistent- meaning it is not going away and is present for 6 weeks or more, requires a medical exam and proper workup.
A Suspicious Lump?
In case of a suspicious lump, a clinical breast exam done by a trained physician along with mammography, and needle biopsy can help in establishing a diagnosis. However, in younger females, say in their 20s and 30s, a simple breast ultrasound as an initial investigation is more advisable, as breast tissue is still young in these females, and therefore sensitive to radiation caused by mammography.
Also Read: How do we find Cancer early?
It is to be kept in mind, the majority of breast lumps in young females are benign, and require no treatment, just follow-up. Therefore, unnecessary exposure to radiation must be avoided at all costs.
A Breast Exam- Help at Hand
A young woman must do her self-exams of her breasts and underarms (called self-breast exams, or SBE), every month. She must report to a doctor if she finds an abnormality in her breast or armpits. A breast exam done by a trained physician is called a clinical breast exam (CBE).
Mammography must be performed every year, starting at the age of 45. An MRI can also be conducted to confirm a diagnosis. Young women mostly do not go for screening tests, as there are none for them. A good practice is to be self-aware and conduct breast examinations by self- and by any trained physician.
Pre-menopausal vs Post-menopausal
If a pre-menopausal woman finds a lump in her breast, she must wait for one menstrual cycle. If the lump shows a regression in size, or goes away completely, most likely it is a benign lump. If it persists for more than 6 weeks, is firm, progressively increasing in size, and not getting smaller with a monthly cycle, that’s the lump that needs evaluation by a physician. In postmenopausal women, any lump is significant and needs evaluation by a physician.
With Advanced Treatments, Survivorship is Improved now. An early diagnosis and timely treatment can change the course of the disease process and treatment outcomes. Survivorship improves, and quality of life is not significantly impaired. Breast cancer treatments are much more advanced nowadays. Because of numerous research and advocacy in this cancer, breast cancer has gained particular attention and its treatment options are good.
The five-year survival rate when this cancer is diagnosed in its earliest stages is 100%. When the cancer is diagnosed at stage 3, this rate is 72%. Therefore, early diagnosis is the key to getting a cure in this cancer.
