Young Women

Young women CAN and DO get breast cancer. While breast cancer in young women accounts for a small percentage of all breast cancer cases, the impact of this disease is widespread: There are more than 250,000 women 40 and under in the U.S. living with breast cancer, and over 11,100 young women will be diagnosed in the next year. But, despite the fact that breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 15 to 54: Many young women and their doctors are unaware that they are at risk for breast cancer. There is no effective breast cancer screening tool for women 40 and under. Young women are often diagnosed at a later stage than their older counterparts. There is very little research or educational material focused on issues unique to this younger population, such as fertility, pregnancy, genetic predisposition, the impact of hormonal status on the effectiveness of treatment, psycho-social and long-term survivorship issues, and higher mortality rates for young women, particularly for African-Americans and Latinas. Young women diagnosed with breast cancer often feel isolated and have little contact with peers who can relate to what they are experiencing. As the incidence of young women with breast cancer is much lower than in older women, young women are underrepresented in many research studies. For more information on Young Women United Against Breast Cancer please visit their website at: www.youngsurvival.org. You may also call YSC Central Indiana at (317) 776-1766.