HEALTH

Breast cancer rates increase in women under 50

Oct 3, 2024, 9:00 AM | Updated: 10:39 am

FILE - A radiologist uses a magnifying glass to check mammograms for breast cancer in Los Angeles, ...

FILE - A radiologist uses a magnifying glass to check mammograms for breast cancer in Los Angeles, May 6, 2010. Breast cancer rates are rising among women under 50. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

SALT LAKE CITY — A new study by the American Cancer Society found that breast cancer rates have risen in the last decade. Specifically, researchers said there was a sharp rise in breast cancer in women under the age of 50. 

Jeff Caplan spoke to Dr. David Peterson, a radiologist with Intermountain Health to break down the numbers. 

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

DR. DAVID PETERSON: The ​good ​news ​is ​that ​there’s ​never ​been ​a ​better ​time ​to ​be ​diagnosed ​with ​breast ​cancer. ​The ​treatments ​are ​so ​much ​better ​than ​they ​used ​to ​be. And ​the ​survival ​rates ​are ​very ​high. ​Especially ​when ​we ​catch ​breast cancer early.

But ​the ​startling ​news ​is ​that ​we ​are ​seeing ​those ​rates ​rise, particularly ​in ​younger ​women. … We’re ​seeing ​it’s ​about ​a 1% ​per ​year ​increase ​over ​time

We’re ​not ​exactly ​sure ​why ​that’s ​happening. This ​is ​particularly ​in ​women ​under age ​50. [That’s] ​below ​the ​age ​where ​we ​previously ​recommended ​screening ​examinations. ​

We ​recommend ​that ​all ​women ​[of average risk] start ​at ​the ​age ​of 40. ​But ​there’s ​a ​lot ​of ​women ​who ​are ​at ​increased ​risk ​for ​breast ​cancer ​that ​don’t ​know ​it. ​And we ​recommend ​that ​those ​women ​start ​screening ​even ​younger.

CAPLAN: Are ​there ​any ​theories ​or ​postulates ​about ​why ​there’s ​been ​this ​sharp ​rise?

PETERSON:  That’s ​the ​million ​dollar ​question. There’s ​a ​lot ​of ​research ​going ​into ​this ​right ​now. Because ​we ​are ​seeing ​such ​a ​sharp ​rise ​in ​a ​short ​period ​of ​time, ​I ​think researchers ​agree ​it ​has ​to ​be ​something ​environmental.

One ​thing ​that ​does ​increase ​women’s ​risk ​for ​breast ​cancer ​is ​obesity. ​And ​we ​know ​that ​obesity ​rates ​are ​rising ​as ​well. ​But ​a ​lot ​of ​these ​young ​women ​with ​breast ​cancer ​aren’t ​necessarily ​obese ​women. ​So ​I ​think ​it almost ​certainly ​has ​to ​be ​something ​environmentally.  ​

CAPLAN: Do ​you ​think ​recommendations ​could ​change ​for ​women ​to ​get ​screenings ​for ​breast ​cancer ​earlier ​in ​life?

PETERSON: The ​thing ​is, ​women ​can’t ​really ​know ​if ​they’re ​at ​average ​risk ​unless ​they ​undergo a ​breast ​cancer ​risk ​assessment. ​

We ​recommend ​that ​women ​meet ​with ​their ​doctor, ideally ​[in their] early ​twenties, ​to ​talk ​about ​their ​breast ​cancer ​risk. There ​are ​lots ​of ​things ​that ​go ​into ​a ​woman’s ​breast ​cancer ​risk, ​not ​just ​family ​history. ​

Read more: 1 in 12 Utahns suffers from long COVID, health department study says

 

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Breast cancer rates increase in women under 50