Wall Street Journal Examines Growing Fear Of Breast Cancer Among Some Young Girls

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 04 Sep 2008 - 8:00 PST

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The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday examined the growing fear of breast cancer among some young girls that in part is because of information about the disease from the media.

Marisa Weiss -- director of breast radiation oncology at Lankenau Hospital in Pennsylvania, founder of Breastcancer.org and co-author of the book "Taking Care of Your 'Girls'" -- said that she has noticed that girls are either uninformed or misinformed about breast health. "They are still young girls, without the dialogue skills to ask questions, air their concerns and replace the myths with facts," she said.

According to the Journal, the book, written for girls and teenagers, offers information on topics such as breast development and size, choosing a bra, how to stand up to teasing and healthy foods during adolescence. Throughout the book, Weiss' daughter, Isabel Friedman, also provides advice and tells stories from a peer-to-peer perspective. The book is an extension of an educational program that Weiss and Friedman have been presenting in schools to girls in grades five through 12 and their mothers. During the program, Weiss provides medical information, explaining to the girls that breast cancer is extremely rare in girls younger than age 20 and that only one in 10 cases of breast cancer is thought to be the result of an inherited genetic abnormality. In addition, she describes the steps girls can take to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer, including keeping a healthy weight, exercising and not smoking. She also advises them to maintain a healthy diet, including limiting consumption of red meat and fried foods.

Weiss said that it is especially important for girls to receive this information at ages eight to 18. "That's when they are using food, water, beverages and the air they breathe as building blocks for breast tissue. They are laying down the foundation for future breast health" (Bernstein, Wall Street Journal, 9/2).

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