One in seven women in Australia will get breast cancer at some time in their lives. And while 80% of them will have celebrated their 50th birthday by the time they’re diagnosed, breast cancer can – and does – occur in younger women. In fact, amongst women aged 20–39, breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths, with 1,000 women under 40 being diagnosed every year.
So, does breast cancer affect younger women differently?
Younger women who develop breast cancer are not only more likely to be diagnosed with more aggressive cancers, the impact of the disease and its treatment can also be different for pre-menopausal women.
“One of the main differences for younger women is that they’re often parenting young children,” says Associate Professor Lesley Stafford, Head of Clinical Psychology at the Centre for Women’s Mental Health at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne. As a psychologist who works predominantly with women diagnosed with breast cancer, Dr Stafford says this delivers both practical and emotional challenges.
“The side effects of chemotherapy can mean you can’t be as available as you need to be for small children, who don’t have the maturity to understand what’s happening. And, like anyone who’s diagnosed with cancer, it’s really common to think ‘am I going to die?’, but this can be exacerbated when your kids are young and you worry about them growing up without mum.
“And the other difference is that breast cancer treatments often impact fertility, which can be very confronting and difficult for women who either haven’t completed or even started their family, yet. Suddenly they’re pushed into an early menopause, which can be permanent. So, as well as coping with a cancer diagnosis, there’s often also a real sense of extra loss and extra grief for young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer.”
Here’s what you can do
Early detection of breast cancer in young women is critical and there are two things that can make a difference – understanding the risk factors and being ‘breast aware’.
As well as the breast cancer risk factors that can affect women of any age, like drinking alcohol regularly and if your period started before the age of 12, factors that can mean younger women are at an increased risk of getting breast cancer include:
- A family history. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed of all cancers in Australia, so a lot of women have a family history of it purely by chance. If you have a first-degree relative from either your mother’s or your father’s side of the family who was diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 45, or with ovarian cancer at any age, you may be at risk. That risk is even higher if more than one relative has been diagnosed.
- Genetic susceptibility. Only 5 to 10% of breast cancers are caused by an inherited fault, or mutation, in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, but a higher proportion of young women diagnosed with breast cancer have one of these mutations, than women who are diagnosed over 50. If you or close relatives have changes in these genes, or you’re concerned about your family history of breast cancer, talk to your doctor.
- Dense breasts. Women with dense breasts have a higher chance of getting breast cancer. The reason isn’t clear, but if you’ve been told your breast density is higher than average, ask your doctor for advice.
Being breast aware means becoming familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel and seeing your doctor if you notice any new or unusual changes. Things to look out for include:
- a new lump or thickening in the breast, particularly if it’s only in one breast.
- a change in the shape or size of the breast or the nipple.
- changes to the skin of the breast, for example a rash, unusual redness or if the skin looks dimpled.
- fluid or discharge from the nipple.
- an unusual pain that doesn’t go away.
- swelling or discomfort in the armpit.
Important research is underway
Studies and clinical trials conducted in Australia and in New Zealand by world-leading breast cancer research organisation, Breast Cancer Trials have already led to vast improvements in the treatment and management of breast cancer, saving millions of lives along the way. But with much more to do, the research is ongoing – and everyone can help. Visit the Breast Cancer Trials website to find out how.
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