Risk of Breast Cancer in Younger Women

Breast cancer is mostly referred to or associated with older or ageing women. Which is not always the case. There have been instances where women as young as 35 were diagnosed with breast cancer and had to go through all the complicated therapies and radiation besides the shock that the victim and her relatives had to undergo for getting it at an age they were not expecting.

In younger women the diagnosis, recovery, treatment and after effects can be far more profound. The diagnosis of breast cancer can come in the way of many important decisions in one’s life: when to have children or to drop the idea of having them, learning to deal with an early menopause etc.

The statistics and journals sometimes just ignore the younger women who are affected with breast cancer. It is popular belief and also a fact to an extent that breast cancer mostly strikes women at an older age. Meaning, the chances of breast cancer increase with age. But young women are getting affected with it. That too with no family history to show for it.

Factors responsible for breast cancer in young women are, past personal history, family history. Some studies have suggested (and the debate to contradict the same has been going on forever) that extended use of oral contraceptives has increased the risk of breast cancer to a little extent amongst young women as compared to women who never use oral contraceptive. Researchers continue to study and observe the opposite results in these trials to come to a final conslusion, if birth thesel pills have a role to play in breast cancer.

Why is it difficult to diangnose breast cancer in younger women: Since breast tissue in younger women is generally denser than the breast tissue in older women it becomes very difficult to feel the lump in a younger woman’s breast. Where as this would be the first symptom that would alert an older woman. Anotehr reason why breast cancer in younger women is not diagnosed in time is because their approabh to symptoms is avery casual. “I am too young to have breast cancer” leads to developing one beyong an easy repair.

Can breast caner amongst younger women be prevented: No, breast cancer in younger women cannot exactly be prevented but early diagnosis can make the treatment far more successfull. 90% of those young women whose breast cancer is detectd in time will survive it. Young women should understand the risk factors and take it up with their health care advisor from time to time. Going through checks if necessary and advised. Let’s not be casual. While we are young. Let’s be alert and aware.

And like I always tell, learn to read your body. You have to be able to know it before doctor when something is not going right with your body. But I am hardly trying to say, assume what could be wrong and start self medication or ask a friend who has somewhat similar symtom and follow the prescription her doctor gave her for a few dollars or lack of time. Please do not mis-interpret what I am trying to say. Understand your body. Understand the feeling of being fit from being in slight discomfort. That’s all.