Breast Cancer

It’s never too early to know your body

Breast CancerAs a young woman, breast cancer is not a disease that you should be afraid of - but it is a disease that you should be aware of. More women are now surviving breast cancer than ever before but it’s still important to know the facts.

For women under 30, your chances of developing breast cancer are very low. For example, each year only around one woman under 20 years of age is diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia. The average age of women when they are diagnosed with breast cancer is 59 years old. Breast cancer can also develop in men; however this is very rare, especially in younger men.

Women of all ages should get to know the normal look and feel of their breasts as part of their daily routine. It’s never too early to start being breast aware and you can encourage the women you love to be breast aware too.

Being Breast Aware

Finding breast cancer early provides the best chance of surviving the disease. Even though you are still young you can start being breast aware early so that breast awareness is a habit for life.

You don’t have to be an expert or use a special technique. You can get to know the normal look and feel of your breasts as part of your everyday routine, like showering, dressing or simply looking in the mirror.

Knowing what’s normal for you will help you recognise new or unusual breast changes. If you do notice something that’s not normal for you, it’s important to see your GP without delay. It is normal for younger women to experience changes in their breasts as a teenager and as a young woman, due to an increase in hormones in the body. Don’t be alarmed - the vast majority of breast changes are not due to breast cancer, but see your doctor to be sure.

How are breast changes found?

In older women (women over 40), mammographic screening (an x-ray of the breast that detects breast changes) is a very effective way of finding breast cancer early. In younger women, mammograms don’t work as well. Cancer looks like a white spot on a mammogram. In an older woman’s mammogram, the white spot is easy to detect as an older woman’s breast appears almost see-through on a mammogram. A mammogram of a younger woman’s breast appears like cotton wool and it is much more difficult to see a white spot.

The important thing for you as a younger woman is to know the normal look and feel of your breasts and to see your doctor if you find a change that is unusual for you.

Changes to look out for include:

• A new lump or lumpiness, especially if it’s only in one breast
• A change in the size or shape of your breast
• A change to the nipple, such as crusting, ulcer, redness or inversion
• A nipple discharge
• A change in the skin of your breast such as redness or dimpling
• An unusual pain that doesn’t go away

Reducing risk for breast cancer

The evidence tell us that taking part in regular physical exercise, as an adult, drinking less than two glasses of alcohol per day, having children before the age of 30 and breastfeeding your children can all help to reduce risk for breast cancer.

So …..

The good news is that more and more women are surviving breast cancer and go on to live fulfilled lives. It is never too early to start being breast aware and you can encourage the women you love to do the same.

If you are interested and want to find out more please visit National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre’s website at www.nbocc.org.au.