Breast Cancer Facts and Statistics: What's the Risk at Your Age?

Every year, 210,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. While half of these women will be over the age of 61, approximately 25,000 will be under the age of 40, with the rest falling in between. Clearly, breast cancer is a significant public health threat, and it is something about which women of all ages must be aware.

It is of course never wise to wait until a disease actually strikes before becoming informed. This is true of many diseases and it is especially true of breast cancer, which will victimize one out of eight women during their lifetimes, and is the second leading cancer killer of women in the United States each year trailing only lung cancer. Women should begin a dialogue with medical professionals or other authorities to educate themselves about breast cancer as soon as they reach adulthood, and this conversation should continue as they get older. With this in mind, here are some age-related facts about this disease that could be important to know.

Women in their 20s and 30s
Breast cancer is extremely uncommon in women under the age of 30 with a rate of 1 in 156. Nevertheless, it is not unheard of, which is why it is often recommended that women in their 20s begin to give themselves periodic breast self-exams. Basically, these involve a combination of visual observation in a mirror and careful tactile exploration around the area of the breasts. What is being looked for are unusual changes in texture; anomalous discharges from the nipples; and especially any lumps that suddenly appear below the surface of the skin. Most breast cancers in women this young are found in those who are genetically predisposed, so if a woman has had breast cancer in her family, especially among those closest to her (mother, daughter or sister) extra precautions should be taken. Regardless of family history, however, if a lump or other problem with the breast is discovered during a self-exam, an appointment should be made with a doctor immediately, as breast cancer is not something to take a chance with.

For both women in the 20s and 30s, a history of family breast cancer could be a sign of an inherited predisposition caused by mutations in the BRCA 1 or 2 genes, which normally help prevent cancerous tumors from forming. There are blood tests that can detect this abnormality, so it may be a good idea for younger women to be tested if they come from a family with a history of suffering from this disease. Besides family history and genetic mutation, two other notable risk factors for women under 40 are previous radiation treatment to the chest area for other medical conditions, and (not surprisingly) a previous incidence of breast cancer.

Screening mammograms are not recommended for women under 40, except when they have high risk factors, in which case these examinations should be done yearly. Even though the chances of getting breast cancer are only .43% over the next ten years once a woman reaches the age of 30, breast cancers in younger women tend to be more aggressive and deadly, which is why self-examinations, medical breast exams, and regular mammograms for those with high risk factors are clearly important.