Many young woman do not think that they will ever be faced with the diagnoses of breast cancer. Generally, breast cancer effects woman who are of a more advanced age, rarely effected woman who are under the age of forty. For this reason, when a young woman is diagnosed with breast cancer the news can be devastating.
Not only is the diagnosis unexpected but young woman battling breast cancer can face unique challenges with breast cancer. One of things that young woman with breast cancer face is that breast cancer in young woman tends to be fast growing, of a higher grade, and are usually hormone receptor-negative. All of these factors make the breast cancer more aggressive and will most likely require chemotherapy. However, breast cancer treatment in young woman is often more effective and survival rates are higher. While age does not play a role in breast cancer treatment, young woman are often more likely to choose other treatment plans. Young woman are more likely to be concerned about conserving breast tissue than woman who are older.
Another issue that younger woman have to face when battling breast cancer is early onset menopause. Menopause is a very important part of treatment more many types of breast cancer. However, early onset menopause may mean that young women will unable to return to having a normal menstrual cycle following treatment. Young women who have not already had children may be unable to do so after treatment. Woman under the age of forty who are facing early menopause may need to consider harvesting embryos and speaking with their doctor about protecting their ovaries during treatment. Talking with a fertility specialist may give younger women with breast cancer a better idea of if they will be able to have children following treatment.
While young women with breast cancer are more likely to survive there are unique issues they will have to face.