In recent years, medical experts have seen a troubling rise in cases of breast cancer among women under the age of 50. But experts say there are many things you can do to help lower your risk, from visiting your health practitioner more frequently and asking for mammograms sooner to conducting breast exams at home.
To understand more about this important topic affecting young women, we chatted with Joshua Manghelli, a breast surgical oncologist at Community Health Network, to find out possible reasons why breast cancer is becoming more common in young women and actionable things women can do to keep on top of their breast health.
Breast Cancer is on the Rise in Young Women
According to Manghelli, breast cancer diagnoses in young women have been increasing by about two percent annually over the past five years.
“Currently, the most common cause of cancer related death for women ages 20 to 49 is breast cancer,” Manghelli says.
The reasons for increased rates of breast cancer are multifactorial. “I think the American diet, which consists of mostly of ultra-processed foods, has played a large role in increased cancer rates in young people,” Manghelli says. “These foods are filled with preservatives, pesticides, and hormones.” He also points to the lack of sufficient exercise and sleep playing a role in cancer risk. Women under the age of 45 can also have inherited mutations that increase breast cancer risk such as BRCA, making breast cancer occurrence more common in women in this age group.
The Importance of Breast Self-Exams
Women under the age of 40 should be performing a monthly physical examination to assess the breasts for any masses or skin changes. “It is also important to examine both axillae [armpit] to ensure there are no enlarged lymph nodes,” Manghelli says.
Additionally, it is important for women to understand their overall risk for breast cancer. “For women with a genetic mutation, lifetime risk of breast cancer is greater than 20 percent,” Manghelli says. Women with a history of radiation to the chest wall prior to age of 30, or any other diagnosed high-risk lesions on their body, should start a high-risk screening protocol between ages 25 to 30, which may consist of breast MRI and mammograms yearly.
What to Look for When Examining
When doing a breast self-exam, women should look for any abnormal findings. This includes any and all:
- masses or lumps
- skin changes
- breast pain
- an inverted nipple
- spontaneous nipple discharge that is clear or bloody and isolated to one breast.
Check your breasts a few days after your period. Breasts are hormonally responsive to period hormone changes, so sometimes the tissue will swell during the second half of your cycle.
If you do find any lumps, don’t worry. Most of these lumps are actually cysts and will go away on their own. Of course, it is never wrong to make an appointment for any breast changes. “Without question, the overwhelming majority of breast lesions are benign and require no treatment,” Manghelli says.
When to See a Doctor
According to Manghelli, women should see a doctor if they are concerned about any abnormal breast findings or have a strong family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or prostate cancer at a young age.
“I would perform a comprehensive physical examination and talk about overall breast cancer risk for each individual based on the history they provide,” he says. After this, he and his patients come up with a plan together, which may include genetic testing and high-risk breast cancer screening.
How to Decrease Your Risk
Focus on diet, exercise and sleep to lower your chances of breast cancer. “I am a big proponent of the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes mostly fish, plant-based foods and healthy fats,” Manghelli says. He believes it is important to ensure patients limit processed foods that are loaded with preservatives and pesticides.
Exercise is also key. “Exercise has been shown over and over to be associated with decreased rates of cancer development,” Manghelli says.
Lastly, sleep is vital. “The importance of sleep and recovery is not emphasized enough in our society,” Manghelli says. “Without good sleep, our bodies remain in a constant inflammatory state that increases the risk of many disease processes including cancer.”
