Breast Cancer in the 20s: Is There a Possibility?

Breast cancer in the 20s & 30s is rare, accounting for merely 5% of the patients, but as a matter of fact, it is still the most prevalent form of cancer in younger women.

Women at their young age have more significant challenges dealing with breast cancer because it generally gets diagnosed at an advanced stage when the tumor is aggressive, and chances of survival reduce considerably. Also, the recurrence rate is on the higher side. Knowing the risk factors and early signs, one can get started on the treatment sooner than later.

Breast cancer in the 20s & 30s is rare, accounting for merely 5% of the patients, but as a matter of fact, it is still the most prevalent form of cancer in younger women.

Women at their young age have more significant challenges dealing with breast cancer because it generally gets diagnosed at an advanced stage when the tumor is aggressive, and chances of survival reduce considerably. Also, the recurrence rate is on the higher side. Knowing the risk factors and early signs, one can get started on the treatment sooner than later.

How Common Is Breast Cancer in the 20s?

Breast cancer in the 20s is sporadic. For women in their 30s, the odds of getting diagnosed with lump one or both the breasts is 1 in every 227 patients; it’s approx 0.4%.

As women age, the risk of developing breast cancer increases up to 1 in every 68 cases; in the age range 40 to 50 years, the risk percentage is 1.5%. Then, in the high-risk group 60 to 70 years, it becomes 1 in every 28 women diagnosed with a lump in both breasts.

Overall, the lifetime risk of a woman getting diagnosed with breast cancer is 12%.

In a nutshell, one can easily deduce that breast cancer in the 20s is a rarity, but as you age, the risk becomes real in the age group 30 to 40, and after 60, the risk is at its peak.

What Are the Risk Factors?

Even in their 20s, some women are at a higher risk of getting diagnosed with breast cancer.

These Risk Factors Include the Following:-

1. If anyone in your family has or had breast cancer, then you’ve higher odds of developing breast cancer.
2. You have the  BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation.
3. You’ve received the radiation treatment around the chest/breast before the age of 30.

Other Risk Factors That Contribute to a Higher Risk of Breast Cancer in All Age Groups Are:-

●        You had your first menstrual period before the age of 12.

●        You are of the Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.

●        You had your first pregnancy before the age of 30.

●        You are physically less active or obese.

●        You drink excessive amounts of alcohol.

●        You are having/had a previous abnormal breast biopsy.

If you fall in the above category of risk factors, you must reach out to your doctor and undergo the PCR master mix  test. This test will detect breast cancer-associated genes in the body, which helps in early diagnosis, and successful treatment.

Causes of Breast Cancer in the 20s

Breast tumors develop as the cancerous cells in the breasts grow and multiply rapidly. Changes in the DNA cause the breast cells to behave abnormally.

As a matter of truth, to date in medical science, there is no clear-cut reason for what causes cells to develop into cancer. However, researchers show that environmental factors, hormones, and genetics have a crucial role to play.

Approx. 5 to 10% of breast cancer cases are linked to inherited gene mutations. The most common genes for breast cancer are gene 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2). If someone in your family has/had breast or ovarian cancer, then you must consult your doctor and get your blood tested for these gene mutations.

Breast cancer in the 20s may differ from tumors in older women. Most young women are most likely to be diagnosed with HER-2 positive and triple-negative breast cancers.

Signs & Symptoms of Breast Cancer in the 20s

It’s often challenging for doctors to diagnose breast cancer in women in their 20s because the breasts of younger women are denser. Therefore the lump is difficult to diagnose by the doctor and generally doesn’t show up on mammograms.

One of the most common signs of breast cancer is a lump or a slight change in the breast area. The majority of young women with breast cancer can easily detect an abnormality themselves.

If there are any changes with your breasts, including pain, nipple discharge, tenderness, lump, or excessive mass, talk to your doctor right away and go for cancer tests.

Conclusion

We can easily conclude that breast tumor in the 20s is not common, but can happen. Since doctors never advise routine screening for this age group, so the diagnosis is challenging. So, you must understand your body; if you experience any unusual changes, don’t overlook them, and consult your doctor immediately.