Breast Cancer And Women Under Age 40: A Growing Concern

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 29 Sep 2008 - 2:00 PST

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When anyone thinks of breast cancer, the face of a young woman doesn't immediately come to mind. Yet, of the more than 200,000 women in the United States who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, about 11,000 will be under the age of 40.

"There are more younger women being diagnosed and we aren't sure if this is due to earlier detection or if women are actually developing the disease younger," said Deborah Kirkland, a former critical care nurse who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32.

Kirkland, who had no family history of breast cancer when this occurred nearly seven years ago, saw a need to be filled. She works for Sinai Hospital of Baltimore (a LifeBridge Health hospital) and heads "Breast Friends" which provides support and education for women under 40 who have been affected by breast cancer. LifeBridge Health obtained a Susan G. Komen grant for "Breast Friends."

The organization does a great deal of community outreach to urban African Americans and all young women. "We don't yet know why," Kirkland said. "But young women have a lower incidence of breast cancer yet a higher mortality rate."

Kirkland's advice? "If I had one message to get across, it would be breast cancer awareness equals early detection which equals increased survival. And also, exercise decreases risk."

LifeBridge Health