Cancer Breast Cancer Support & Coping 8 Ways Young Women Can Decrease Their Breast Cancer Risk By Jean Campbell, MS facebook linkedin Jean Campbell, MS, is a breast cancer survivor and advocate, and the founding director of the American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program. Learn about our editorial process Jean Campbell, MS Fact checked by Fact checked by Lisa Sullivan, MS on April 18, 2020 Lisa Sullivan, MS, is a nutritionist and a corporate health and wellness educator with nearly 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Learn about our editorial process Lisa Sullivan, MS Updated on April 18, 2020 Print In 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched the Bring Your Brave Campaign to make young women, ages 18-44, aware of their risk factors for developing breast cancer. While most breast cancers occur in women over 50, the CDC states that 11% of new breast cancers are diagnosed in women less than 45 years of age. SDI Productions / Getty Images According to the American Cancer Society, in 2020, it is estimated that there will be 276,480 new diagnoses of invasive breast cancer in American women. In addition, there will be 48,530 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS), a non-invasive, early form of breast cancer diagnosed in women. This would bring the total number of new cases of breast cancer to 325,010. Using the CDC percentage of 11%, that means that in 2020, about 35,751 young women under the age of 45 will get a breast cancer diagnosis. Breast cancer, at any age, is a serious and life-threatening experience. For young women, it is also a major life-changer occurring when most women 18-44 are continuing their education, dating, getting married, raising a family, and building a career. Because many young women fail to realize they can get breast cancer, they don’t get routine comprehensive breast exams or start mammograms early. Consequently, their breast cancers are found at a later stage when they are more advanced and harder to treat. Many do not know their family history and the significance of having breast cancer in the family. While there are specific risk factors for breast cancer that young women all have, such as being a woman and having breast tissue, there are some risk factors that place women younger than 45 at higher risk, including women with: Family members diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 45Family members diagnosed with ovarian cancer at any ageA male relative diagnosed with breast cancerClose relatives with changes in their BRCA1 and BRCA2 genesAn Ashkenazi Jewish heritageA past history of radiation therapy to the breast or chest in childhood or young adulthoodA history of breast health problemsDense breasts confirmed on a mammogram Young women with any of these risk factors need to speak with their physician and review their family history in detail. Genetic counseling and testing for BRCA gene mutations will likely be recommended to women whose family history reflects certain types of breast and ovarian cancers. Each woman’s discussion with her physician needs to include a plan for managing risk factors, such as having a breast cancer screening. While screenings won’t prevent breast cancer, cancers caught in screenings are usually found at an early stage, when they are easier to treat and have a better outcome. Young women can reduce their risk of getting breast cancer by: Maintaining a healthy weightExercising regularlyLimiting alcoholic intake to one drink per dayChoosing not to smoke or quitting smokingDiscussing the risks of taking hormone therapy or oral contraceptives (birth control pills) with your doctorTalking to your doctor if you have a family history of breast cancerOpting to breastfeed your child, if possibleReducing exposure to cancer-causing chemicals The CDC confirms that having risk factors for breast cancer doesn’t mean it is a given that a young woman will get breast cancer, nor does it mean that not having known risk factors is a guarantee she won’t. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get honest information, the latest research, and support for you or a loved one with breast cancer right to your inbox. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bring Your Brave campaign. Updated April 5, 2019. American Cancer Society. How common is breast cancer? Updated January 8, 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Risk factors for breast cancer at a young age. Updated April 5, 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Genetic counseling and testing. Updated April 5, 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What is breast cancer screening? Updated September 11, 2018. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What are the risk factors for breast cancer? Updated September 11, 2018.