Young Women and Breast Cancer
Mammograms and in-depth testing for breast cancer generally does not begin until women reach age 45. The Cleveland Clinic, a not-for-profit, multi-specialty academic medical center in Cleveland, Ohio, reports that 5 percent of breast cancer patients are under age 40. However, women from every walk of life should be aware of changes in their body, specifically ones in the breast, because breast cancer can afflict women at any age. Although medical professionals do not currently know what causes breast cancer to strike young women, they do understand several risk factors and ways in which the disease affects women under 40.
Risk Factors
There are several factors that may increase the odds that a younger woman may be at risk for breast cancer. These include a family history. Specifically, WedMD reports that the women who have a mother, daughter or sister who has had breast cancer or other breast diseases are considered especially at risk for the disease. In addition, the age at which a woman had her first menstrual cycle as well as her first period influences a woman's risk of breast cancer.
Diagnostic Differences and Prevention
Young women generally do not undergo regular mammograms, and therefore it is often very difficult to diagnosis breast cancer in young woman until the tumor is large. In addition, WebMD reports that the breast tissue in young women is often denser than that of an older woman. Because of these factors, as well as the fact that breast cancer in young women is often a more aggressive type of cancer, means that younger women's bodies may be more resistant to radiation than older women's bodies.
There is no specific way to prevent breast cancer. However, early diagnosis is the best way to ensure that the cancer does not spread. WebMD asserts that 90 percent of the women who catch the cancer in the beginning stages will be able to successfully get rid of the disease.
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