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Although breast cancer is more common in women older than 55, rates are rising in younger women.

Breast cancer can bring a unique set of challenges to this age group. They may feel anxious about how treatments will affect their family planning or worry about caring for their young children. They may also wonder about putting their careers on hold.

Whether you’re feeling concerned about your breast cancer risk or a young woman dealing with a diagnosis, this information can help.

How Many Women Under 50 Are Diagnosed with Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer diagnoses have been growing at about 1% per year. But the rate of breast cancer in women under 50 has been rising a little faster, at 1.4% per year.

Experts think lifestyle factors may play a significant role in this. For example, women today have children later, breastfeed for less time, and drink more alcohol compared to previous decades.

What are the odds of getting breast cancer under 50? Though 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will have breast cancer in their lifetime, most cases occur in women over 50. Approximately 10% of all new breast cancer cases in the U.S. are in women younger than 45.

Breast cancer before age 35 is even rarer. Only 2% of breast cancer diagnoses were in women ages 20 to 35 as of 2022, though rates continue to rise.

When Should Women Get Screened for Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer screening under 50

The American Cancer Society recommends annual screening mammograms for all women starting at age 45.

Women between the ages of 40 and 44 may opt for annual mammograms. Your doctor can share the benefits — finding and treating cancer early — and risks — anxiety about questionable results — of yearly mammograms for younger women.

If you have a mother or sister diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50, you should start screening mammograms 10 years before their age at diagnosis. Women with a known BRCA gene mutation should start annual screening with a breast MRI at age 25, adding an annual mammogram at age 30.

Should you get tested for a BRCA mutation?

A BRCA mutation is a harmful mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. Women with a mutation in either BRCA gene have a high chance of getting breast cancer, with a lifetime risk above 60%, according to the National Cancer Institute. Having a BRCA mutation also increases the risk of ovarian cancer and prostate cancer.

About 1 in 400 people carry a BRCA mutation. About 5% to 10% of all breast cancers are attributed to a BRCA mutation. Testing for a BRCA mutation also includes testing for other genes that can contribute to breast or ovarian cancer, such as PALB2.

Checking for a BRCA mutation requires a blood or saliva test to check for this mutation. Factors that increase the risk of having a BRCA mutation include:

• Age — Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis before age 50.
• Family history — Having close family members with a breast cancer diagnosis, especially before age 50. A family history of ovarian cancer or early onset prostate cancer also increases the risk of a BRCA mutation.
• Heredity — About 2% of people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have a BRCA mutation.

Women with a BRCA mutation can take steps to prevent breast or ovarian cancer from occurring or recurring. This can include enhanced screening (with an MRI) from an early age or a mastectomy (breast removal) or surgery to remove the ovaries. Women with triple negative breast cancer and males with breast cancer are more likely to have a BRCA mutation.

How are young women diagnosed with breast cancer?

If a mammogram or other breast imaging test shows a suspicious area, your doctor will likely order a biopsy. This involves removing a small sample of breast tissue, then testing it for cancer cells.

What Are the Treatments for Breast Cancer?

When a doctor diagnoses you with breast cancer, your care team will create a personalized treatment plan based on the tumor’s stage (how advanced the cancer is) and genetic characteristics.

Treatment typically involves a mix of medication, radiation, and surgery. Thanks to these targeted combinations, approximately 92% of women with breast cancer survive five years or longer from their diagnosis.

Don’t hesitate to ask your care team any questions about treatment and the long-term outlook.

Medications

Breast cancer treatment can include oral medications, IV medications, or both. Your doctor will choose your medication based on the molecular makeup of your cancer. Medications may include:

• Chemotherapy — Shrinks a tumor or kills remaining cancer cells after surgery.
• Hormone therapy — Used for cancers with hormone receptors, meaning they use hormones like estrogen or progesterone to grow. These drugs can block breast tissue from using hormones.
• Immunotherapy — Helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. This is an option for certain types of breast cancer.
• Targeted therapy — Destroys certain proteins in the body that help cancer cells grow.

Surgery

Surgery options for breast cancer include:

• Breast-conserving surgery — Removes the tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue. In most cases, BCS followed by radiation is as effective as a mastectomy.
• Mastectomy — Removes the entire breast. Doctors may recommend this for large tumors or if cancer is in multiple areas of the breast.

Radiation therapy

Many women have radiation therapy after surgery. This uses high-energy rays to destroy any remaining cancer cells, lowering the chance that the cancer will recur (come back).

What Are the Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment?

Many breast cancer therapies come with side effects, such as nausea, fatigue, or neuropathy. Other breast cancer treatments have side effects similar to menopause, such as hot flashes or joint aches. Exercise and eating well can greatly improve your body’s ability to tolerate therapy.

Your care team will tell you what side effects you might experience and when to expect them. You may wish to take some time off work during the more intense parts of therapy. You might also want to ask a friend or family member to help you with household or child care needs.

How Does Breast Cancer Treatment Affect Fertility and Family Planning?

Chemotherapy and other breast cancer treatments damage eggs, causing temporary or permanent infertility. If you wish to have children in the future, your care team will connect you to a fertility specialist. They’ll explain the options for preserving your fertility, including freezing eggs or embryos.

Your care team will likely advise you to wait two years after finishing treatment before trying to become pregnant. Research suggests that getting pregnant after breast cancer doesn’t increase the risk of recurrence or the risk of birth defects.

Are There Resources for Young Women with Breast Cancer?

Navigating treatment as a young woman can feel overwhelming and lonely — connecting with other young women who have breast cancer can help. Make sure to lean on your care team, too. They can connect you with help for financial, emotional, caregiving, and other challenges.

Some helpful resources for young women with breast cancer include:

• Breast Cancer Support Services at UPMC.
• Charitable Resources for People Diagnosed With Breast Cancer.
• Navigating Your Breast Cancer Journey Under Age 50 (UPMC).
• Young Adults Facing Breast Cancer Together.
• Young Breast Cancer Survivors Program (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).