While breast cancer diagnosis and treatment are difficult for women of any age, younger women may find the experience overwhelming.
With youth comes the feeling of invincibility for so many people, so dealing with a cancer diagnosis can come as quite a challenge.
About 11 percent of all new cases of breast cancer in the United States are found in women younger than 45, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And unless they have witnessed a relative or friend go through the diagnosis and treatment process, young women can find it a shocking experience to find out they have breast cancer.
Who is at risk?
The CDC identifies certain segments of the population to be at an increased risk of getting breast cancer at an early age compared with other women their age. Here are some factors to consider:
You have close relatives (parents, siblings or children) who were diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer when they were younger than 45. This is especially true if more than one relative was diagnosed or if a male relative had breast cancer.
You were treated with radiation therapy to the breast or chest during childhood or early adulthood.
What to do
The most crucial action you can take as a young woman with an increased risk for breast cancer is talking to your doctor. He or she may suggest ways that you can improve your chances against breast cancer and will have more information on genetic counseling that could potentially uncover mutations in your gene structure.
It also may be recommended that you receive mammograms earlier and more often than other women, or you may need other screening tests.
Cut down the risk
Many factors can influence your risk of getting breast cancer. They are important to understand because most women who develop the disease have no known risk factors or history of breast cancer in their families.
Here are some ways to improve your chances of staying breast cancer-free:
- Avoid exposure to chemicals that can cause cancer, such as the carcinogens found in cigarettes.
- Reduce your exposure to radiation during medical tests such as mammograms, X-rays, CT scans and PET scans.
- Ask your doctor about the risks of taking hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives.
- Breastfeed your babies, if possible.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Exercise regularly.
- Don’t drink alcohol, or limit alcoholic drinks to one per day.
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