How young can you get breast cancer

Minus Related Pages. Being a woman and getting older are the main risk factors for breast cancer. Stay Informed. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.

A fibroadenoma is a benign breast tumor. Common among women in their 20s and 30s, these lumps do not turn into cancer. They have clear borders and range in size from very tiny to several inches.

They are associated with a slight increase in the risk of breast cancer. Phyllodes are tumors that grow fast, but they are almost always benign. They are very rare, but in 10 percent of cases, they can spread to other areas of the body.

So women with these tumors may elect to have them removed. Cysts are small growths in the breast tissue, akin to pimples under the skin. Some women have fibrocystic breasts, which means their breasts contain many cysts and may feel lumpy. Teens who have fibrocystic breasts should talk to a doctor about their concerns.

Knowing how their breasts normally feel can help women with a lumpy breast distinguish cancer from a cyst. Similarly to older women with breast cancer, teens with breast cancer can experience many different types of the disease. The most common include:. In situ means that the cancer is only in the breast. These cancers are easier to treat and less likely to be fatal. The most common types of in situ cancers are ductal carcinomas and lobular carcinomas.

A ductal carcinoma is a noninvasive cancer sometimes called pre-cancer or stage 0 breast cancer. Lobular carcinoma grows in the milk ducts and typically does not spread. Invasive breast cancers are forms of cancer that can spread, potentially affecting the lungs, brain, liver, and other vital organs.

They are more likely to be fatal, particularly if they are not promptly caught and treated. There are invasive forms of both lobular carcinoma and ductal carcinoma.

Current guidelines recommend asking a doctor about screening from the age of around 40 years. However, it is important that teens who experience unusual symptoms or notice any breast changes speak to their doctor. Some 90 percent of breast lumps are not due to cancer. Chemotherapy is not recommended during the first trimester because it may harm the unborn baby, with treatment often given during the second and third trimesters.

Issues faced by young women due breast cancer treatments may include fatigue, sleep problems, weight gain, issues with cardiovascular health and reduction in bone mineral density. Breast cancer treatments can lead to vaginal dryness or weight gain which can lead to feelings such as loss of femininity and sexual attractiveness.

Receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer at a young age is not only a shock for the woman, but for their loved ones as well family members, partners. Young women often report feeling socially isolated or alone during and after their breast cancer treatment — even if they are surrounded by supportive family and friends. Fear of recurrence is the fear that breast cancer could return in the breast, or in another part of the body.

This affects any woman diagnosed with breast cancer. However, young women must live much longer with this fear. Even following successful treatment from breast cancer, many of those affected live with an ongoing fear that their cancer will return.

This fear can be debilitating and can lead to anxiety, depression and reduced quality of life. Many times the fear overtakes my ability to do basic things and it has led to anxiety and depression at its worst.

ConquerFear will be a great tool for people diagnosed with cancer to tap into and use the strategies to control their fears and anxieties and focus on our goals and daily living. All women are at risk of developing breast cancer and the risk greatly increases with age with most cases of breast cancer occurring in women over the age of There are a range of factors that can increase breast cancer risk in young women. The causes of breast cancer in young women can include lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption and non-lifestyle factors such as genetics.

Young women may have an increased risk of breast cancer due to factors such as:. Understanding the risk factors for breast cancer and being breast aware is vital for the early detection of breast cancer in young women. Earlier detection means more treatment options, a much higher chance of survival and an increased quality of life for women at all ages. If you are concerned that you may have an increased risk of breast cancer, please speak with your GP or local family cancer clinic, who will help you assess your risk and refer you for further genetic testing if needed.

Organised breast cancer screening aims to detect breast cancers at an early stage in women. The most common benign lump as the breasts are developing is known as a fibroadenoma. Breast pain can be anything from a mild ache to a sharp, stabbing, burning sensation.

Breasts can be painful when they are developing during puberty. For some people, breast pain is affected by changing hormone levels: the pain is at its worst just before a period, settling down again afterwards. For others the pain can happen at any time. There are practical ways and treatments to help settle breast pain, so talk to your doctor if this is a problem for you. There are many myths about the causes of breast cancer.

The three things that increase the risk of breast cancer the most are things we have no control over.