When you are young, the furthest thought from your mind is breast cancer. “I’m too young to have to worry about that,” you may say. The truth of the matter is, even young women are being diagnosed with this form of cancer. Other than some forms of skin cancer, breast is the most common cancer diagnosed among women.
According to the American Cancer Society, 232,570 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed this year. From this number, approximately 40,000 women will die from this cancer. The chances of a women getting breast cancer in her lifetime is one in eight.
Fortunately the death rate has decreased over the years due to early detection. This is key – even for young women.
There are a variety of reasons that young women should perform self-breast exams.
- A young woman’s breast tissue is much thicker than an older woman. Because of this, it can be tougher to detect. Therefore be vigilant in your self-breast exam and make certain you report any issues that seem out of the ordinary such as lumps or the shape of your breast appearing different.
- Unfortunately when a young woman gets breast cancer, it is usually a more aggressive type of cancer which also means a lower chance of survival. Therefore, catch it early through self-detection.
- Most insurance companies will not pay for a woman to have a mammogram until they are at least 40 years old. Therefore, it is vital for you to catch something that may be going on yourself and then you report it to the doctor.
- A rule of thumb is to begin self exams by the age of 20 on a once a month basis. One way to remember is to do it each time you begin your menstrual cycle. If you begin at such an early age, you will become very familiar with how your breasts look and feel and will notice changes in your breasts.
- Although you may not be able to yet do a mammogram, try to have a clinical exam at least every three years in addition to your monthly breast exams.
- Visit our knowledge center article entitled Performing a Breast Self-Exam for a step-by-step guide.
Just remember, you are never too young to get breast cancer. It definitely does occur more often with women that are aging but it does happen to the young as well. If you have questions or concerns over any health issue, please continue to browse our blog or knowledge center. Also, if you are in need of scheduling a women’s exam, please contact our Gainesville or Lake City office today.
