Breast Cancer in Young Women

Marleah’s family history of breast cancer was her motivation for pursuing a career where she can be an advocate for herself and others at high risk. Read her story.

Young women can and do get breast cancer.

Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old or older, but breast cancer also affects younger women. About 10% of all new cases of breast cancer in the United States are found in women younger than 45 years of age.

Who Has a Higher Risk?

Some young women are at a higher risk for getting breast cancer at an early age compared with other women their age. If you are a woman under age 45, you may have a higher risk if you have—

• Close relatives who were diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer when they were younger than 45, especially if more than one relative was diagnosed or if a male relative had breast cancer.
• Changes in your BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, or close relatives with these changes.
• An Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.
• Been treated with radiation therapy to the breast or chest during childhood or early adulthood.
• Had breast cancer or certain other breast health problems.
• Been told that you have dense breasts on a mammogram.

CDC’s Bring Your Brave campaign provides information about breast cancer to women younger than age 45 by sharing real stories about young women whose lives have been affected by breast cancer.

What Can I Do to Lower My Risk?

It is important that you—

• Know how your breasts normally look and feel. If you notice a change in the size or shape of your breast, feel pain in your breast, have nipple discharge other than breast milk (including blood), or other symptoms, talk to a doctor right away.
• Make healthy choices. Keeping a healthy weight, getting enough physical activity and sleep, and breastfeeding your babies can help lower your overall risk. If you are taking, or have been told to take, hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives (birth control pills), ask your doctor about the risks.
• Talk to your doctor about your risk. If your risk is high, your doctor may talk to you about getting mammograms earlier and more often than other women, whether other screening tests might be right for you, and medicines or surgeries that can lower your risk. Your doctor may also suggest that you get genetic counseling to determine if you should be tested for changes in your BRCA1, BRCA2, and other genes related to breast cancer.

Featured Resources

This infographic lists steps you can take to lower your risk for breast and ovarian cancer.

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How has breast cancer touched your life? Share your story with our app.

In this video, a genetic counselor explains how your family history of breast cancer can affect your risk.

Our “Breast Cancer in Young Women” fact sheet [PDF-1.7MB] explains who may get breast cancer at a younger age.

The Know:BRCA tool can help you learn about BRCA genes and assess your risk of having a change in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

Diagnosed at age 43, Pam fought breast cancer with everything she had. Read her story in this blog post.

Cara tested positive for a BRCA gene mutation and was diagnosed with breast cancer at 25. Watch her video.

“Because of my family history, I’m at high risk.” Breast cancer survivor Pam shares her story in this podcast.