Just as colon cancer is increasing among people under 50, breast cancer is surging in American women under 40 and the medical community doesn’t know why. Moreover, the overall incidence of breast cancer in women under 50 has been increasing by approximately 1.4% annually from 2012 to 2021. And even women in their 20s experienced around a 2.2% increase per year in diagnoses during the past decade.
Of note, the rise is not uniform across the country, with the highest incidence rates observed in Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Hawaii, and Connecticut. The southern region of the U.S. was the only area that did not experience an overall increase in rates.
This is concerning… Young women are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages with more aggressive forms of breast cancer. As a result, treatment options may be more limited and intensive for later-stage diagnoses.
Breast cancer is already the leading cause of cancer deaths in women ages 20-39.
Why is this happening?
While the exact reasons for this increase remain unclear, researchers and medical professionals suggest several potential contributing factors:
Genetic Factors: Younger women diagnosed with breast cancer are more likely to have genetic mutations compared to older women.
Hormonal Influences: The surge is primarily driven by estrogen-receptor-positive tumors, which are fueled by estrogen.
Reproductive Patterns: Changes in women’s reproductive behaviors, such as delayed childbearing, may play a role.
Environmental and Lifestyle Factors: Experts believe these could contribute to the trend, although specific causes are yet to be identified.
Opinion: Years from now we may discover it was something in the water or air. Whatever is responsible for the rise in colon cancer diagnoses for people under 50 might be having a similar impact on breast cancer.
WOMEN, GET YOUR MAMMOGRAMS ANNUALLY!