Few health headlines have sparked as much concern and debate this year as the rising incidence of breast cancer in women under 40.
Since the release of new reports from the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute, experts have raced to solve the puzzle of why, despite advances in medicine and growing health awareness, this potentially deadly disease is strikingly affecting a demographic previously thought to be outside the risk group.
Social and oncological epidemiologist Rebecca Kehm, along with other researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, has participated in this research, examining the geographic variation of this trend.
Now, observing the panic, Kehm reminds us that “although rates are increasing, breast cancer remains relatively rare in those under 40 years of age.”
Kehm responded with skepticism to the idea of revising mammography guidelines. «It does not make sense to carry out systematic screening tests on the entire population in those under 40 years of age. “The data just doesn’t support it.”
Although generally safe, breast imaging exposes patients to a small dose of radiation. “We want to take this into account when considering risks and benefits,” he added.
That said, any symptoms or lumps detected in the breast should be ignored, especially in people with a strong family history of cancer.
«It is about having a personal awareness of one’s own body. If the person feels something wrong or abnormal, they should follow up. And, on the other hand, your doctor or health professional should also take you seriously.
However, these principles regarding prophylaxis and diagnosis are by no means recent. «The data shows that there has been a steady increase for decades. Therefore, this is not a new phenomenon,” Kehm said. “We don’t think this increase is due to some type of new exposure that has arisen.”
While his article listed Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Hawaii and Connecticut as the five states with the highest incidence of early-onset breast cancer between 2001 and 2020, Kehm insists that no single aspect, including geography, can explain breast cancer risk or the multidimensional way it has evolved over time.
Cancer is so complex and caused by so many different factors that it is likely that various changing forces in our environment and lifestyle are causing this increase.
For all New York residents concerned about exposure to atmospheric factors such as air pollution, this offers some peace of mind.
At the same time, Kehm tries not to minimize the issue. Instead of trying to find a silver bullet, she suggests redirecting efforts toward filling in the gaps in our understanding of female physiology.
“All of this shows that we need more research focused on women’s health across the lifespan,” she said. “That would help us understand what normal breast development looks like and what happens when we see cancers at younger ages.”
