Younger women generally do not consider themselves to be at risk for breast
cancer. Only 5% of all breast cancer cases occur in women under 40 years old.
However, breast cancer can strike at any age, and women of every age should be
aware of their personal risk factors for breast cancer. (A risk factor is a condition
or behavior that puts a person at an increased chance for developing a disease.)
There are several factors that put a woman at high risk for developing breast
cancer, including:
Risk factors include:
* A personal history of breast cancer or some non-cancerous breast diseases.
* A family history of breast cancer, particularly in a mother, daughter or
sister.
* History of radiation therapy Evidence of a specific genetic defect
(BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation). Women who carry defects on either of these genes
are at greater risk for developing breast cancer.
* A Gail Index score of at least 1.7% (The Gail Index uses risk factors such as
age, family history of breast cancer, age of first menstrual period and first
pregnancy, and number of breast biopsies to calculate a woman's risk of
developing breast cancer within the next five years.)
Some studies have suggested that extended use of oral contraceptives (the Pill)
results in a very slight increased risk for developing breast cancer over those who
have never taken them. Women who have stopped using birth control pills for
more than 10 years do not seem to be at any greater risk. Other studies, however,
show no such effect. Researchers continue to study the conflicting results in
these trials to determine if birth control pills play a role in breast cancer.
What Is Different About Breast Cancer In Younger Women?
Diagnosing breast cancer in younger women (under 40 years old) is more
difficult because their breast tissue is generally denser than the breast tissue in
older women. By the time a lump in a younger woman's breast can be felt, the
cancer often is advanced.
In addition, breast cancer in younger women may be aggressive and less likely
to respond to treatment. Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer at a
younger age are more likely to have a mutated (altered) BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
Delays in diagnosing breast cancer also are a problem. Many younger women
who have breast cancer ignore the warning signs -- such as a breast lump or
unusual discharge -- because they believe they are too young to get breast cancer.
Many women assume they are too young to get breast cancer and tend to assume
a lump is a harmless cyst or other growth. Some health care providers also
dismiss breast lumps in young women as cysts and adopt a "wait and see"
approach.
Can Breast Cancer In Younger Women Be Prevented?
Although breast cancer may not be prevented, early detection and prompt
treatment can significantly improve a woman's chances of surviving breast
cancer. More than 90% of women whose breast cancer is found in an early stage
will survive.
When women learn at a young age about the risks and benefits of detecting
breast cancer early, they are more likely to follow the recommendations
regarding clinical exams and mammograms. Young women also need to
understand their risk factors and be able to discuss breast health with their
health care providers.
Should Women Under Age 40 Get Mammograms?
In general, regular mammograms are not recommended for women under 40
years old, in part, because breast tissue tends to be more dense in young women,
making mammograms less effective as a screening tool. In addition, most
experts believe the low risk of developing breast cancer at a young age does not
justify the radiation exposure or the cost of mammography. However, screening
mammograms may be recommended for younger women with a family history of
breast cancer and other risk factors.
What's the Best Way for Younger Women to Screen for Breast Cancer?
The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that all women 20 years of age
or older should perform monthly breast self-examinations. The best time to
perform BSE is the day after your monthly period ends. Becoming familiar with
the look and feel of their breasts offers the best chance for a young woman to
notice any changes.
In addition to monthly BSE, regular clinical breast exams performed at least
every 3 years by your doctor are recommended for all women beginning at age
20. Annual screening mammograms also are recommended at age 40. Women
younger than 40 who have a family history or other risk factors for breast cancer
should discuss their risk and an appropriate screening schedule with their health
care providers.
How Is Breast Cancer Treated In Younger Women?
The course of treatment for breast cancer at any age is based on the extent of the
person's disease (whether or not it has spread beyond the breast), as well as the
woman's general health and personal circumstances.
Treatment options include surgery: either a lumpectomy, which involves
removing the lump and some surrounding tissue, or a mastectomy, which is the
removal of a breast.
Radiation therapy is generally used following a lumpectomy, and chemotherapy
and/or hormone therapy often are recommended after surgery to help destroy any
remaining cancer cells and prevent recurrence.
Breast cancer poses other challenges for younger women, as well, such as
sexuality, fertility and pregnancy after breast cancer treatment.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Breast Cancer In Women Over 50
Breast cancer is most common in women over 50. But that doesn't mean it can't
occur in younger women. There are many cases in women in their 40s. And while
it's far more rare in women under 40, women in their 20s and 30s can get breast
cancer too. But it is relatively rare. Less than 5 percent of all breast cancers
occur in women under age 40.
All too often, a young woman may be misdiagnosed. She may detect a lump or a
thickening, go in to see her doctor, and be told she just has lumpy breasts or
"fibrocystic disease" and should be followed. And she is—until her doctors realize
it's more serious than they initially believed. Then, they step into action. This is
why even though the vast majority of lumps in women under 35 are benign, it's
important for doctors to be vigilant and bear in mind that young women can
develop breast cancer.
Like older women, the majority of younger women with breast cancer have no
family history. But if you do have breast cancer in your family, you're more
likely to get it at a younger age than if you don't.
The treatment for breast cancer in young women is pretty much the same as for
older women, with the option of either breast conservation surgery with radiation
or mastectomy with or without reconstruction. Often chemotherapy puts a young
woman into menopause. The really young woman—in her 20s or early 30s—is
less likely to have that happen than the woman in her late 30s or early 40s.
That's because the closer you are naturally to menopause, the more likely it is
that chemotherapy will push you there. Chemotherapy regimens that include
cyclophosphamide (brand name Cytoxan) are more likely to induce menopause in
women under 35 than are regimens that include doxorubicin (brand name
Adriamycin).
There is considerable controversy over whether it is good for a young woman to
get her period back after chemotherapy ends. Some data suggest that a
premenopausal woman who has a hormone-sensitive tumor and whose period
returns may benefit from an induced temporary menopause. This can be done
with a drug like goserelin (brand name Zoladex) or leuprolide (brand name
Lupron), which stop the ovaries from producing estrogen.
Fertility after treatment is a major concern for many young women. Because of
the likelihood of chemotherapy-induced menopause, it is important that any
woman concerned about fertility discuss her options with a fertility specialist
who has expertise in treating women with cancer before undergoing
chemotherapy.
Cancer During Pregnancy
Although it is rare, there are women who develop breast cancer while pregnant or
breastfeeding. Most studies show that, stage by stage, a cancer that develops at
this time is no more aggressive than any other breast cancer. The problem is that
when you are pregnant, your breasts are going through a lot of normal changes,
which can mask a more dangerous change. For one thing, breasts are much
lumpier and thicker than usual. Similarly, when you're breastfeeding, you tend
to have all kinds of benign lumps and blocked ducts, and you may not notice a
change that would normally alarm you. Infections are common when
breastfeeding and can mask inflammatory breast cancer, making a diagnosis of
this form of breast cancer difficult.
Treatment options depend on what trimester you are in. In the first trimester, the
most that can be done is a biopsy or a wide excision under local anesthetic. A
general anesthetic (needed for a mastectomy), chemotherapy, and radiation
cannot be used, as they can injure the fetus. In the second or third trimester, a
mastectomy under general anesthesia becomes safe. So does chemotherapy.
Radiation and hormone therapy cannot be given until after the baby's birth.
Statistics
* There are more than 250,000 women 40 and under in the US living with
breast cancer.
* Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women ages 15 to 54.
* More than 11,000 young women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
* By age 30 a woman has a 1 in 2,212 chance of being diagnosed with breast
cancer.
* From age 30 to 39 a woman has a 1 in 229 chance of being diagnosed with
breast cancer.
occur in younger women. There are many cases in women in their 40s. And while
it's far more rare in women under 40, women in their 20s and 30s can get breast
cancer too. But it is relatively rare. Less than 5 percent of all breast cancers
occur in women under age 40.
All too often, a young woman may be misdiagnosed. She may detect a lump or a
thickening, go in to see her doctor, and be told she just has lumpy breasts or
"fibrocystic disease" and should be followed. And she is—until her doctors realize
it's more serious than they initially believed. Then, they step into action. This is
why even though the vast majority of lumps in women under 35 are benign, it's
important for doctors to be vigilant and bear in mind that young women can
develop breast cancer.
Like older women, the majority of younger women with breast cancer have no
family history. But if you do have breast cancer in your family, you're more
likely to get it at a younger age than if you don't.
The treatment for breast cancer in young women is pretty much the same as for
older women, with the option of either breast conservation surgery with radiation
or mastectomy with or without reconstruction. Often chemotherapy puts a young
woman into menopause. The really young woman—in her 20s or early 30s—is
less likely to have that happen than the woman in her late 30s or early 40s.
That's because the closer you are naturally to menopause, the more likely it is
that chemotherapy will push you there. Chemotherapy regimens that include
cyclophosphamide (brand name Cytoxan) are more likely to induce menopause in
women under 35 than are regimens that include doxorubicin (brand name
Adriamycin).
There is considerable controversy over whether it is good for a young woman to
get her period back after chemotherapy ends. Some data suggest that a
premenopausal woman who has a hormone-sensitive tumor and whose period
returns may benefit from an induced temporary menopause. This can be done
with a drug like goserelin (brand name Zoladex) or leuprolide (brand name
Lupron), which stop the ovaries from producing estrogen.
Fertility after treatment is a major concern for many young women. Because of
the likelihood of chemotherapy-induced menopause, it is important that any
woman concerned about fertility discuss her options with a fertility specialist
who has expertise in treating women with cancer before undergoing
chemotherapy.
Cancer During Pregnancy
Although it is rare, there are women who develop breast cancer while pregnant or
breastfeeding. Most studies show that, stage by stage, a cancer that develops at
this time is no more aggressive than any other breast cancer. The problem is that
when you are pregnant, your breasts are going through a lot of normal changes,
which can mask a more dangerous change. For one thing, breasts are much
lumpier and thicker than usual. Similarly, when you're breastfeeding, you tend
to have all kinds of benign lumps and blocked ducts, and you may not notice a
change that would normally alarm you. Infections are common when
breastfeeding and can mask inflammatory breast cancer, making a diagnosis of
this form of breast cancer difficult.
Treatment options depend on what trimester you are in. In the first trimester, the
most that can be done is a biopsy or a wide excision under local anesthetic. A
general anesthetic (needed for a mastectomy), chemotherapy, and radiation
cannot be used, as they can injure the fetus. In the second or third trimester, a
mastectomy under general anesthesia becomes safe. So does chemotherapy.
Radiation and hormone therapy cannot be given until after the baby's birth.
Statistics
* There are more than 250,000 women 40 and under in the US living with
breast cancer.
* Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women ages 15 to 54.
* More than 11,000 young women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
* By age 30 a woman has a 1 in 2,212 chance of being diagnosed with breast
cancer.
* From age 30 to 39 a woman has a 1 in 229 chance of being diagnosed with
breast cancer.
HEALTHY BREASTS
Firstly, and most importantly, you need to understand that every change and
every lump found in your breasts does not mean you have Breast Cancer,
especially as your breasts are growing and changing, they'll have lumps and
bumps anyway.
Healthy BreastsIMPORTANT FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
* On average, the final stage of puberty is around 15 years of age and at this
time, you are physically an adult.
* In your late teens and early twenties you have more lumps, bumps and pain
in your breasts that seem to come about just because your body is growing.
* Lumps can form in your breasts due to hormonal changes during your
period cycle and they usually go away at the end of that time of the month.
* In your late teens and early twenties you sometimes can have round rubbery
types of tumors called Fibroadenomas and these are not cancerous.
every lump found in your breasts does not mean you have Breast Cancer,
especially as your breasts are growing and changing, they'll have lumps and
bumps anyway.
Healthy BreastsIMPORTANT FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
* On average, the final stage of puberty is around 15 years of age and at this
time, you are physically an adult.
* In your late teens and early twenties you have more lumps, bumps and pain
in your breasts that seem to come about just because your body is growing.
* Lumps can form in your breasts due to hormonal changes during your
period cycle and they usually go away at the end of that time of the month.
* In your late teens and early twenties you sometimes can have round rubbery
types of tumors called Fibroadenomas and these are not cancerous.
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