Breast cancer in younger women

Verified by Dr. Nita Nair, Lead Consultant Breast Surgery, Apollo Cancer Centers, Navi Mumbai.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and while it is most often diagnosed in women over 50, it can also occur in younger women. The most widely accepted definition of young women with breast cancer are women diagnosed with breast cancer at ≤ 40 years of a, fortunately it contributes to less than 10% of all new cases of women with breast cancer each year.

Risk factors for breast cancer in younger women

• Genetics: If you have a close family member with breast cancer, your risk of developing the disease is higher.
• Dense breasts: Dense breasts have more connective tissue and less fatty tissue. This can make it more difficult to see cancer on mammograms and other imaging tests.
• Early menstruation: If you started menstruating before the age of 12, you are at an increased risk of breast cancer.
• Late age of first childbirth and not breast feeding
• Certain lifestyle factors: Obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption can all increase your risk of breast cancer.

Symptoms of breast cancer

• A lump in the breast or underarm
• Changes in the size, shape, or appearance of a breast
• Nipple discharge
• Nipple retraction (turning inward)
• Pain in the breast or underarm
• Redness or thickening of the breast skin

Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in younger women

Lack of awareness among health care providers and patients both contribute to the advanced stage of presentation and thus the worse outcome in younger women. Diagnostic challenges due to increased breast density, lower sensitivity of mammogram and ultrasound features mimicking benign lesions especially in triple negative cancers can also lead to delay in diagnosis. Hence the emphasis for triple test for all women with breast lumps, which include good clinical evaluation, radiology and pathological confirmation.

If you have any of the symptoms of breast cancer, it is important to see your doctor right away. Breast cancer is most treatable when it is caught early.

Your doctor will likely perform a physical exam and order a mammogram, which is an X-ray of the breast. If your mammogram is abnormal, your doctor may order additional tests, such as an ultrasound or biopsy.

If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, your treatment options will depend on the stage of the cancer, the type of cancer, and your overall health. Treatment options may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and hormone therapy.

Prevention of breast cancer in younger women

The survival rate of patients with breast cancer is poor in India as compared to Western countries due to late stage of disease at presentation and delayed initiation of cancer directed treatment. Early detection is our best step forward and leads to cure.

Some of the methods for early detection and screening for breast cancer include:

• Self-breast examination: SBE enables a woman to learn the specific features of her breast, to know how her breasts normally feels. This aids to identify changes in the breast if any in the future. Breast self-examination consists of two basic steps: visual (through vision) and tactile (through touch) examination of the breast.
• Clinical breast examination (CBE): This involves an examination of the breast by a health care professional, such as a breast cancer specialist. It includes both inspection (looking) as well as palpation (feeling) of the breast. The areas examined include the entire breast/chest area (including the lymph nodes), above and below the collarbone, and under each arm to look for any swelling or lumps, nipple discharge or skin changes.
• Mammography: A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms are the most widely used method to screen for breast cancer.

Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai has an exclusive women clinician led ‘Apollo Women’s Cancer Prevention Clinic’ that helps women of all age groups to prevent as well as detect women-specific cancers at an early stage. If you or your loved one do notice any abnormal signs in the breast, connect with our women cancer clinician at the earliest.

Consult our expert, Dr. Nita Nair, Lead Consultant Breast Surgery, Apollo Cancer Centres, Navi Mumbai for a comprehensive management approach for breast cancer.

Call 022 6280 6280 for an appointment.