Breast cancer at a young age? (Early-Onset Breast Cancer) Don't be afraid, let's be aware of this

Are you under 45? When you hear about breast cancer, do you think, "Oh... it's an old person's disease?" It's true that this disease is most often diagnosed in women over 50. But that doesn't mean that younger women aren't at risk. Sometimes, young women between the ages of 18 and 45 can also develop breast cancer. So, the most important thing is to be aware of this without being afraid. Let's talk about this in a friendly way today.

What is breast cancer that occurs at a young age?

Simply put, if a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer between the ages of 18 and 45, we call it early-onset breast cancer. Breast cancer can actually develop at any age. Although very rare, it can also occur in young women.

What is special about cancer in a young person?

When a young person develops breast cancer, it can be a little different than when it develops in someone over the age of 45. Here are some reasons.

• It can be detected late: Most breast cancer screenings, such as mammograms, are usually recommended after the age of 40. So even if a young person has symptoms, they may ignore them, thinking, "This is nothing serious." This can lead to the cancer being detected at an advanced stage, when it has already developed.
• May be more aggressive: Some studies have found that, based on the characteristics of cancer cells (tumor markers), younger women may have faster-growing, more aggressive cancers. Therefore, they may be more difficult to treat.

What are the most common types of breast cancer in young people?

Although any type of breast cancer can develop in a young person, these two types are especially common.

• Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: This is the most common type of breast cancer seen in women of any age.
• Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: This is a rare and difficult type of cancer to treat.

What are the symptoms that appear at a young age?

Symptoms do not change with age. The same symptoms of breast cancer that anyone else experiences are common in younger people. The most important thing is to be aware of any changes in your breasts .

Be aware of these symptoms.

Why does breast cancer develop at such a young age?

The main reason for this is genetic mutations . Imagine that our body has genes that act like "brake" that stop the growth of cancer cells. We call these ``tumor suppressor genes''. ``BRCA1`` and ``BRCA2`` are two such major genes.

If a mutation occurs in these genes, the "brake" does not work properly. Then abnormal cells can divide uncontrollably and develop into cancer. About half of breast cancers that occur in young women are associated with mutations in the `BRCA1` or `BRCA2` genes.

In addition to these two genes, mutations in several other genes such as `TP53`, `PTEN`, and `PALB2` can also affect this.

But the important thing is that not all breast cancers that develop in young women are caused by genetic factors. Some can even occur spontaneously, without any family history.

What are the risk factors for this?

Your family medical history is very important in this. You may think you are at higher risk of breast cancer if someone in your family has had any of these conditions.

If you have a family history of this type, your doctor may recommend genetic testing to find out if you have a genetic mutation that increases your risk of cancer. If so, you may be referred for genetic counseling to help manage that risk.

How to diagnose the disease?

Regardless of age, the process of diagnosing breast cancer is the same.

1. Medical examination: First, the doctor will examine your breasts.

2. Asking about symptoms and history: You will be asked about your symptoms, personal and family medical history.

3. Imaging Tests: Tests such as `(Mammogram)` or `(Breast MRI)` can be done to see if there is any abnormal growth in the breasts.

4. Biopsy: If there is a suspicious area, a small piece of tissue is taken from there and examined under a microscope. This test is used to definitively determine whether it is cancerous or not.

Should people under the age of 40 get a mammogram?

Mammograms are not usually recommended for women under 40 who are at high risk. However, if you have any of the risk factors listed above, your doctor may recommend more frequent screening before age 40. Don't be alarmed if they ask you to have additional screening tests. This will help detect cancer early, before it has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body . This will increase your chances of being treated and cured completely.

How is it treated?

When you find out you have cancer, you and your doctor will work together to decide the best treatment plan. This will depend on the type of cancer you have, the stage it has spread to, and whether you plan to have children in the future .

The treatment plan may include one or more of the following:

• Surgery: Surgery to remove only the cancerous tumor (lumpectomy) or the entire breast (mastectomy).
• Chemotherapy: Drug treatment that destroys cancer cells.
• Radiation Therapy: Destroying cancer cells using high-energy rays.
• Hormone Therapy: Drugs that block hormones that affect the growth of cancer cells.
• Targeted Therapy: Drugs that specifically target and attack only cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy: Stimulating your own body's immune system to fight cancer cells.

What are the possible complications of treatment?

As a young woman, you need to be especially aware of this.

In addition, hormone therapy can cause symptoms similar to those of menopause (e.g., hot flashes, insomnia). In addition, treatment can cause side effects such as:

• Anxiety or depression
• Body image concerns
• Cancer fatigue
• Pain (Cancer pain)
• Lymphedema

How is it possible to recover from this disease?

What matters here is more than your age, it is the type of cancer you have and the stage it was at when it was diagnosed.

Simply put, if the cancer is detected when it is confined to the breast , the five-year survival rate is as high as 91%. That means 91 out of 100 people will be alive and well after five years.

If the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, that figure drops slightly to 86%.

If the cancer has spread to distant organs such as the bones, liver, or lungs, that figure drops to 31%.

Don't be alarmed by these statistics. Everyone's situation is different. The best way to get the most accurate information about your situation is to talk to your oncologist.

How do you take care of yourself?

Finding out you have cancer can be one of the most difficult experiences you'll ever face. The emotions that come up, the difficult conversations that need to be had, the countless appointments that need to be made to see doctors... With all of this, you'll have tough days, both physically and mentally. But with the right support, you can get through this journey.

Remember that you are not alone. Your medical team will be with you every step of the way. Ask them about support groups. Talking to people who have faced cancer at a young age and recovered from it can be a great source of strength. Their experiences will give you a sense of what to expect going forward, and above all, the feeling that you have someone who understands you.

Breast Cancer, Young Age Cancer, Early-Onset Breast Cancer, BRCA1, BRCA2, Cancer Symptoms, Women's Health