Who is affected by Breast Cancer?
Being female and getting older are the two biggest risks for
breast cancer. One in 8 women, in the U.S., will be diagnosed with breast
cancer in her lifetime. However, breast cancer does not only affect women.
Young Women:
Breast cancer knows no age boundaries. Breast cancer in
young women is rare – about five percent of breast cancer cases are in women
under the age of 40. However, breast cancer can and does happen to women under
age 40. If you are a young woman and feel that something is not normal,
advocate for yourself until you get care that addresses your concerns. No one
should ever assume that just because you are young, you cannot get breast
cancer.
Women diagnosed before age 40 are more likely to have a
mutated BRCA 1 or BRCA2 gene that put
them at a greater risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. If a woman carries a mutated gene, she may
have a 30-85 percent chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. Having
an immediate family member (parent, sibling or child) with breast cancer also
increases a young woman’s chance of developing breast cancer. So while the risk
of developing breast cancer is low for most women, it is higher for some. Young
women who are diagnosed with breast cancer should discuss future plans with
their physician, as some treatments may affect fertility. Young women may also
experience concerns that are different from those of older women. There are several
resources in place which are tailored to young survivors:
Susan G. Komen ®
1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636) —
www.ShopKomen.com for these
booklets:
What’s
happening to me?
What’s
happening to the woman I love?
What’s
happening to mom?
What’s
happening to the woman we love?
Fertile Hope
1-866-965-7205
Young Survival Coalition®
1-877-972-1011
Men:
Though boys and girls begin life with similar breast tissue,
over time, men do not have the same complex breast growth and development as
women. At puberty, high testosterone and low estrogen levels stop breast
development in males. Some milk ducts exist, but they remain undeveloped,
and lobules are most often absent. However, breast problems,
including breast cancer, can occur in men.
Men
account for one percent of all breast cancer diagnoses. Survival rates for men
are about the same as for women with the same stage of cancer at the time of
diagnosis. However, men are often diagnosed at a later stage because they may
be less likely to report symptoms.
The most common sign of breast cancer in men is a painless
lump or thickening in the breast or chest area. However, any change in the
breast or nipple can be a warning sign of breast cancer in men including:
- Lump,
hard knot or thickening in the breast, chest or underarm
area (usually painless, but may be tender)
- Change
in the size or shape of the breast
- Dimpling,
puckering or redness of the skin of the breast
- Itchy,
scaly sore or rash on the nipple
- Pulling
in of the nipple (inverted nipple) or other parts of the breast
- Nipple
discharge
If a man notices any of these signs or other changes in his breast, chest
area or nipple, see a health care provider right away. Some men may be
embarrassed about a change in their breast or chest area and put off seeing a
provider, but this may result in a delay in diagnosis. Survival is highest when
breast cancer is found early.
Co-Survivors:
“This is happening to her body, but cancer is happening to your family.” The fact of the matter is
that cancer affects not only the survivor, but also the co-survivors – the
people supporting the survivor through treatment and beyond. At Susan G. Komen,
we consider a person a survivor from the moment a breast cancer diagnosis is
confirmed. Co-survivors can be family members, spouses or partners, friends,
health care providers or colleagues. Anyone who is there to lend support from
diagnosis through treatment and beyond is considered a co-survivor. Many
different co-survivors may enter the survivor's life over time, lending support
in a variety of ways.
Directly upon diagnosis, there may be a whirl-wind of tests
and treatments, or a surgery date. It goes by so quickly that the survivor and
co-survivors may have little time to process the emotions that accompany a
breast cancer diagnosis. And when treatment is completed, the new normal sets in. The new normal is
difficult to explain because it is different for each individual. The survivor
has a new perspective of life which may include a desire to make a difference I
the world, concerns about recurrence or metastasis, or a reorganization of life’s
priorities. Co-survivors are often impacted by the new needs of the survivor,.
Sometimes it is hard to know what to do or what to say. As a
co-survivor, Komen’s educational materials and resources can help you
understand and meet the needs of someone going through this experience.
