When you're young, breast cancer is probably the furthest thing from your mind. However, it shouldn’t be. Although breast cancer in young women is significantly less common among those from 20 to 39, it does happen. Finding time to do the cheeky checkup is easy once you realise how important it is.
- Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in women of all ages.
- Younger women diagnosed with breast cancer often experience a more aggressive cancer. This fact alone is enough to make early detection crucial for younger women.
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Mammography screening is not recommended until age 40. Younger women need to be breast health aware and the cheeky checkup is a perfect example.
- Because breast tissue is more dense when you are younger it can make diagnosis of breast cancer difficult. Young women should become familiar with how their breasts look and how they feel, thereby making it easier for you to notice any changes in your breasts.
- Because the lifetime risk of breast cancer is 1 in 9 for Australian women, establishing good breast health practices while you are still young can reduce your chance of getting breast cancer at a later stage.
