The incidence of breast cancer in Canadian women under 50 is on the rise, as indicated by a study revealing an uptick in diagnoses among women in their twenties, thirties, and forties. Led by Dr. Jean Seely, the study, published in the Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal, analyzed breast cancer cases over a 35-year period to uncover trends in the disease.Breast cancer detection in Canada. “Breast cancer in younger women tends to be diagnosed at later stages and is often more aggressive,” said Dr. Seely, Head of Breast Imaging at The Ottawa Hospital and Professor in the Department of Radiology at the University of Ottawa. “It’s alarming to see rising rates among women in their Twenties and Thirties because they are not regularly screened for breast cancer.”
Risk increases with age
Using data from the National Cancer Incidence Reporting System (1984-1991) and the Canadian Cancer Registry (1992-2019) at Statistics Canada, the research team, which included Larry E.Allison from Statistics Canada and Dr. Anna Wilkinson, an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, conducted a study on women aged 20 to 54 who were diagnosed with breast cancer.
Here are their key findings:
- Among women in their 20s, the incidence of breast cancer was 3.9 cases per 100,000 people between 1984 and 1988, which increased to 5.7 cases per 100,000 between 2015 and 2019, marking a 45.5% increase.
- For women in their 30s, the incidence was 37.7 cases per 100,000 people between 1984 and 1988, which rose to 42.4 cases per 100,000 between 2015 and 2019, representing a 12.5% increase.
- Among women in their 40s, the incidence was 127.8 cases per 100,000 people between 1984 and 1988.Between 1984 and 1988, the breast cancer rate was 128.5 cases per 100,000 people, and between 2015 and 2019, it increased to 139.4 cases per 100,000, showing a 9.1% rise. The study’s findings emphasize the need to target younger women in breast cancer awareness and screening efforts, as most public health campaigns focus on women over 50. However, the research suggests that younger women are increasingly at risk and may benefit from earlier and more frequent screenings. Chelsea Bland, who was 28 when she heard about a breast cancer death at age 33, is an example of one of these women.Chelsea discovered a lump during a self-examination, which led to screenings and a diagnosis of breast cancer. Although she is now cancer-free, she continues hormone therapy. This experience inspired her to create a support group for younger women, with members typically between the ages of 28 and 40. Chelsea hopes to raise awareness about the fact that breast cancer can affect people in their twenties, thirties, and forties. She has heard similar stories from many members of her support group.s. “Young women are often dismissed when they find a lump because they are told they are too young to have breast cancer. As a result, many of us are being diagnosed at a later, more advanced stage. This is happening to women without high-risk genetic markers for breast cancer, including myself.”Increasing awarenessThe researchers believe that further investigation is necessary to identify the underlying reasons for the increasing rates of breast cancer in younger women. This information could help in developing specific intervention methods.
“We are advocating forDr. Seely and Dr. Wilkinson have been studying the benefits of early breast cancer screening for women in their forties. They emphasize the importance of adapting strategies and policies to reflect the increasing incidence of breast cancer in younger women. Their goal is to ensure that all women, regardless of age, have access to the information and resources needed to detect and fight this disease.
