Breast Cancer

sullivano

Hi - Just wondering how many young women are really aware of the risks of breast cancer. Does anyone under 30 really care?

Need to know for some research I'm doing...

eve

I know that it exists but I don't know what the factors are that may increase my chances of getting it. It's not something that I think about too often.

BoozyBabe

When I was 24 (i think, or possibly a bit younger) I found a lump in my breast.
So, I went to the doctor. She also found the lump I was talking about, so she referred me to the specialist.
I got a biopsy taken & it was sent away for testing.
The day the results were due back I also had an appointment to have an ultrasound on my breast to check for any abnormalities.

Anyway, long & short of it was:- the biopsy came back normal, nothing was found on the ultrasound.
I was told my breast tissue was naturally lumpy & what I had found was just a slightly larger lump & that it was nothing to worry about.

Now, the great piece of advice given to me by the specialist:- If you ever find a lump again, don't worry about it, it's just normal.
Have you ever heard anything like it in all your life!!!!!!!!!

So yes, it is something I think of often (I'm now 27), I have them checked regularly. (Mostly by my bf though!!!! )

boffin

Never thought about it until someone I knew that was 28 and got it.

In terms of risks the only ones I can think of off hand are family history and smoking

The Hill Billy

OP - Maybe try the Long Term Illness forum?

galah

one topic that infuriates me a lot - there's no proper screening here for women under the age of 50...

In Germany, you go to your gyno every six months, basically from the age of your first period onwards. Each time you go, you'll get a full breast check, and checks for other types of "female" cancer (uterus etc), along with a smear test and so on. So you're aware of your body, and you're shown how to check at least your breasts for lumps. And even if you're not aware of changes in your body, your gyno is.

Here, you see your GP, and only if something's up. And you're lucky if your smear test is back within 3 months. It's a f*cking joke, it really is. And yet people are surprised that cancer rates are really high - no wonder, if it's not detected at an early stage, and you're no really encouraged to get it checked (plus you have to pay each time you see your GP - another deterrant).

CathyMoran

I would self examine but feel that the other cancers that women and men suffer from do not get any publicity (such as testicular and oesophageal cancer).

Schlemm

Most of my friends seem fairly aware about breast cancer but they still drink quite heavily, even though that this is a big risk factor. Awareness about cervical cancer is even less tho I'd say. With skin cancer, most people I know as well are aware that you have to be safe when you sunbathe, but they use a very low factor and stay out for ages in the sun and wind up a bit on the pink side, despite preaching about being safe in the sun. Found a cyst in my breast a few years ago and now I really keep an eye on things and I know some people who have been in similar situations. We're all about 21...so I'd say that people this age are aware...but maybe not really that bothered sometimes.

simu

I'm aware of it and watch out for lumps. Twas also one of the (many) reasons I breastfed my son for ages - it's thought that breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer.

I'm in my 20s fyi.

DrIndy

breast cancer is rare amongst under 30's, but it does happen, its common sense to do breast checks. I do not know quantitatively the amount of awareness, but there are breast cancer charities which should be able to give you more information as they would undertake surveys to assess awareness.

InFront

I think that of all the cancers, breast cancer is probably the best known, most publicised and is the form of cancer that people are probably best informed about. I don't believe things like testicular, skin or lung cancer, or heart disease and high cholesterol, are avoided/ checked with the same degree of effort within this population as breast cancer is.

DrIndy

Thats because breast cancer is not only prevalent, but easy to screen for and has a very high cure rate when caught early. Bowel cancer is not as easy, yet, to screen for. Cervical cancer is also easy to screen, but there is no proper screening program out there yet

CathyMoran

I get fustrated when breast cancer is publicised yet people do not know about my cancer (oesophageal), I had doctors thinking that it was all in my head, that delayed my diagnosis by 6 long weeks. Screening is relatively easy for mine but the survival rate is very poor unless you catch it very early. Having said that, all publicity for cancer is good, I think that Kylie Minogue's illness showed all of us that we need to be careful and did make me sure that I self examined.

tallaght01

We focus public health promotion where there is most scope to prevent tumours or detect them early. Breast cancer is common, and it can be screened for easily. As important as oesophageal cancer may be to you, with limited funds available we have to look at the big picture. There isn't even a proper screening programme available for cervical cancer in ireland, which is pretty poor form.

Breast cancer, cervical cancer, testicular cancer anre common, can be screened for, and are amenable to treatment if caught early. The same can't always be said for oesophageal cancer, which is especially uncommon in young people, and requires biopsies and barium meals etc to screen for.

When you have a limited amount of cash, you have an ethical obligation to put that cash where it's going to make most difference.