Breast cancer rates in women under 50 are rising in Canada according to a study that showed an increase in breast cancer diagnoses among women in their twenties, thirties and forties.
Led by Dr. Jean Seely, this study published in the Journal of the Canadian Association of Radiologists reviewed breast cancer cases over 35 years to shed light on trends in breast cancer screening in Canada.
“Breast cancer in younger women tends to be diagnosed at more advanced stages and is often more aggressive,” said Dr. Seely, chief of breast imaging at The Ottawa Hospital and professor in the Department of Radiology at the University of Ottawa. “It is alarming to see increasing rates among women in their 20s and 30s because they are not regularly screened for breast cancer.”
The risk increases with age.
Using data from Statistics Canada’s National Cancer Incidence Reporting System (1984-1991) and the Canadian Cancer Registry (1992-2019), the research team, which included Statistics Canada’s Larry Ellison and Dr. Anna Wilkinson , an associate professor at the School of Medicine, examined all women ages 20 to 54 who were diagnosed with breast cancer.
Their findings included:
- For women in their 20s, there were 3.9 cases per 100,000 people between 1984 and 1988, compared to 5.7 cases per 100,000 between 2015 and 2019, an increase of 45.5%.
- For women aged 30, there were 37.7 cases per 100,000 people between 1984 and 1988, compared to 42.4 cases per 100,000 between 2015 and 2019, an increase of 12.5%.
- For women in their 40s, there were 127.8 cases per 100,000 people between 1984 and 1988, compared to 139.4 cases per 100,000 between 2015 and 2019, an increase of 9.1%.
The study results show the importance of targeting younger women in breast cancer awareness campaigns and screening programs. Most public health efforts focus on women over age 50, but these findings suggest that younger women are increasingly at risk and may benefit from earlier and more frequent screening.
Personal experience
Chelsea Bland is one of those women.
Upon learning of a death from breast cancer at age 33, Chelsea (then 28) performed her own self-examination, where she discovered a lump. This led to screenings that ultimately led to a breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Although she has been cancer-free for two years, today she continues with hormone therapy. All of her experience led Chelsea to help establish a local group that provides peer support to younger women (average ages range from 28 to 40).
“I hope that by raising awareness about this study, people will think twice before saying that being in your twenties, thirties and forties is too young to have breast cancer. In my support group, I have heard the same story over and over again ” says Chelsea. “Young women are not taken seriously after finding a lump because they are told they are too young for breast cancer. Ultimately, this has led to delays in diagnosis and a more advanced stage. We are not too young for this. And this is happening to women who don’t have any high-risk genetic markers for breast cancer, including myself.”
Improve awareness
Researchers say more research is needed to understand the root cause of rising breast cancer rates among younger women, information that could be used to develop targeted intervention strategies.
“We are calling for greater awareness among health professionals and the public about the increasing incidence of breast cancer in younger women,” said Dr. Seely, who along with Dr. Wilkinson has long documented the benefits of early detection with screening tests for women. in his forties. “We need to adapt our strategies and policies to reflect these changing trends, ensuring that all women, regardless of their age, have access to the information and resources they need to detect and combat this disease.”