Breast cancer is frequently referred to as the cancer of older women because it is age-related. Age increases the likelihood of getting breast cancer. So, a 20 or 25-year-old need not worry about getting breast cancer, right? Wrong! Breast cancer can develop at any age, and younger women are also at risk, albeit slightly less so than women over 50, according to Dr. Shiva Kumar Uppala, the surgical oncologist at OncoIndia, Bengaluru.
Dr. Shiva Kumar reports that in the past month alone, he had to perform breast cancer surgery on five women between the ages of 18 and 25. The rise in breast cancer incidence in younger women can be attributed to urbanization and changes in our social behavior. Rise in processed food consumption, late marriages, late pregnancies, lack of breastfeeding, alcoholism, smoking, etc, are all contributing factors to this alarming trend. However, heredity is the most important factor in the development of breast cancer in younger women. According to Dr. Shiva Kumar, if someone in your family has had cancer, your risk of developing breast cancer increases significantly.
The entire family had to go through a traumatic time when Navya's (name changed) mother received the devastating news that she had ovarian cancer. Despite the hereditary risk of developing breast cancer, Navya chose not to have any screening tests for herself. Navya, 22, says, "I never thought that one could get breast cancer at my age.” We might have been able to find the lump when it was precancerous if Navya had undergone a cancer screening as soon as her mother was given the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, claims Dr. Shiva Kumar. Despite the late diagnosis, in Navya's case, Dr. Shiva Kumar and his staff at OncoIndia were still able to successfully treat her.
Dr. Shiva Kumar claims that the misconception that breast cancer only affects older people makes young women irresponsible and careless. Lack of knowledge about whom to consult is another significant factor that raises the risk of breast cancer in young women. Most women believe that any issue with the breasts needs to be brought to a gynecologist. Even though this is generally the best course of action, if there is a lump in the breast, it might not be the best choice. Dr. Shiva Kumar asserts that it is always preferable to consult a general surgeon, oncosurgeon, or oncologist rather than a gynecologist in cases of breast abnormalities.
Breast cancer in younger women poses several challenges both for the patient and the oncologist. Diagnosis of breast cancer in younger women can be difficult due to increased breast density. Many times, lumps in the breasts of younger women might be dismissed by doctors who are not experts in the field of cancer. Treatment challenges include patient resistance due to concerns about fertility, highly aggressive cancers that do not respond well to treatment, and so on.
Dr. Shiva Kumar has a few tips for young women:
1. Breast cancer can occur at any age. Therefore, always be alert and conduct breast self-examinations periodically whether you are 18 or 80.
2. If you notice any lump in your breast, consult an oncologist rather than a gynecologist.
3. Maintain a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer at a young age.
