New Study Finds Increase in Breast Cancer Among Younger Women
Many still associate cancer with aging, and the majority of breast cancer cases and deaths do involve older women.
However, a new study from the American Cancer Society notes an uptick in cases among younger women – women under fifty. '
Dr. Glenda Delgado , an oncologist with Parkland Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center, talked with KERA’s Sam Baker about reasons for the increase.
There are many factors. One is the increasing rates of metabolic changes associated with dietary patterns. With more obesity, more alcohol use, more delaying childbearing - all of those factors contribute to the increase in risk of having breast cancer.
One of the thought processes is there is more estrogen or feminine hormones in the body that are putting the breast cancer cells at higher risk of developing these changes that include breast cancer.
Some are suggesting, though, this is about better treatment and detection?
That's also true. But the breast cancer mortality wouldn't be rising if that was the only case. And yes, there is better treatment. There is better detection for sure. But we also see a higher breast cancer development in younger patients.
Is cancer different in younger women than in older women?
Yes, they are more aggressive. We still have very good therapies for them. And if we find them and diagnose them early in the disease process or when the cancer is just in the breast, the treatment and the five-year and ten-year survival is usually very, very good in the 80s and 90s.
