You think breast cancer is something that happens later, much later. A subject of health that floats on the horizon, but that does not concern you – not now.
A reality that shakes up our preconceptions
You grew up when he understood that breast cancer mainly concerned women of an advanced age. It is still true overall. But a statistical trend will not leave you indifferent: between 2000 and 2020, the incidence of breast cancer in the 15–39 year olds increased by +1.6 % per year on average. And if you take a closer look at the figures over a longer period, you will see that among those under 40, the increase is even more marked: +2.1 % per year between 1990 and 2018, going from 8.9 to 22.4 cases per 100,000 women.
Doctors still speak of “rarity”, but it is a less and less marginal rarity. Clearly: today, this is no longer an isolated statistical event. It is a trend.
Why are young women no longer spared
Admittedly, the majority of new diagnoses still affect women after 50 years. But why this climb to the youngest? Several factors are pointed out:
-
The decrease of age to the first pregnancy.
-
The drop in the birth rate.
-
The growing exposure to endocrine disruptors, pesticides or environmental pollutants.
It is not a rumor. These are seriously studied tracks. Moreover, a collective of 1,055 women affected before 50 years old calls publicly to give “more means to research in order to better target risk factors”. The link between environment and cancer is no longer a marginal hypothesis: it is a burning subject.
And if you thought that the family history explained everything, think again. The majority of young women affected have No known risk factor.
A clear message: vigilance and action
The progression is not dazzling, but it is there. And she talks to you, first because women under the age of 50 are not targeted by organized screening. In other words, if you have no family history or obvious symptom, you are not systematically followed. And this is where part of the problem lies.
Add to that the geographic inequalities of access to care, social disparities, still well anchored taboos, and you get a cocktail of factors that distance an entire generation from a prevention, however crucial.
What does that imply for you? Two things. The first: never trivializes a physical change, even light. The second: support the calls for a fairer, more modern prevention, and above all, more in line with the realities of today.
Mini FAQ: breast cancer
1. What is breast cancer? A disease that forms in breast cells, often in canals or lobules, and which can sometimes spread to other parts of the body.
2. What are the first signs to watch? Greater, change of breast or nipple skin, flow or unusual pain may be alert signals.
3. Can men be reached? Yes, even if it remains rare, breast cancer can also touch men.
4. What are the main risk factors? Age, family history, certain genetic mutations, lifestyle and environmental exhibitions are often involved.
5. What is the interest of screening? It allows early detection of cancer, often before the appearance of symptoms, increasing the chances of effective treatment.
