Young women face alarming breast cancer rates, study reveals

An alarming rise in breast cancer cases among younger women has doctors in Southwest Florida concerned. 

A study in the New York region showed that 20-24% of breast cancer cases over an 11-year period were in women aged 18 to 49. This research was presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

Dr. Elizabeth Arguelles, board-certified breast surgeon with the Magnolia Breast Center and director of the Breast Program at Physicians Regional Medical Center, said she is treating multiple women in their 30s and 40s diagnosed with breast cancer, which she finds concerning.

"People ask me all the time, 'What am I looking for in a self-breast exam?' It's anything that makes you pause, so a lump, a redness, a rash, nipple discharge, nipple inversion, part of the breast that's pulling in, itching that doesn't go away, pain that's worsening or constant. It's anything that just makes you pause and say, 'Something's not right here'," said Arguelles.

Lee Ann Smith shared her heartbreaking story about her daughter Jaclynn, who was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at 28 and passed away at 31. Smith emphasized the importance of early screening, as their family had no history of breast cancer.

"My heart goes out to moms that have to go through cancer diagnosis for their children," said Smith.

She added, "There's so many other things that are on their minds right now like starting families or getting married and buying a house. You're hit with a diagnosis like this, and it just completely changes your world."

Smith and Jaclynn's friends established "Jaclynn's Wish Foundation," a nonprofit that provides financial grants to women diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.

For women like Lynne Strykowski, who started getting regular mammograms at 42 due to dense breast tissue, the concern is palpable.

"It concerns me because of my age. I've got children. My husband is absolutely supportive, but there is that little spot like in my mind of, 'What if it is?'" said Strykowski.

She continued, "Even if you feel fine and you have zero out of the 15 symptoms of what breast cancer could be, it doesn't mean that there might not be a little something in there."

Arguelles encouraged women to advocate for themselves, saying, "The woman knows her breasts the best. If she really feels something or something is different and not how it used to be, you really need to advocate for yourself."

Research shows that for women diagnosed with breast cancer, exercising for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, can reduce the risk of recurrence by 30-50%. Simple activities like a brisk walk, squats while folding laundry, or dancing in the kitchen can make a significant difference.