Breast cancer treatment for young women

Breast cancer usually occurs in women aged 45 and over. But today, the incidence in young women is a worrying number and these are also the subjects with a worse prognosis than usual. So what is breast cancer in young people? How to treat this disease? The following article will provide necessary information about Breast cancer treatment for young women.

Young women often think they are less likely to get breast cancer. However, breast cancer can strike at any age, specifically 5% of breast cancer cases occur in women under 40 years old. All women should be aware of the risk factors that lead to them developing breast cancer. (A risk factor is a condition or behavior that puts a person at risk of developing the disease.) Moreover, the risk of death in this group of patients has a certain relationship with their living environment.
There are several factors that put a woman at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, including:
A personal history of breast cancer or a high-risk lesion found by biopsy A family history of breast cancer, especially when the person had it as a child Family history of genetic syndromes that can put them at higher risk for breast cancer (breast cancer diagnosed before age 50, ovarian cancer of any age, triple negative breast cancer, bilateral breast cancer, male breast cancer, pancreatic or prostate cancer metastasis) History of radiation therapy to the chest A known genetic mutation that causes a high risk of developing breast cancer (carriers of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations)

Younger women are more likely to get hormone receptor negative and higher levels of breast cancer. Higher grade tumors look very different from normal cells. They divide quickly and are more likely to spread. They often respond well to treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, which destroy rapidly dividing cells.
Hormone receptor negative cancers do not need the female hormones estrogen and progesterone to grow. Unlike hormone receptor-positive cancers, they cannot be treated with hormone therapies such as tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. Hormone-receptor-negative cancers tend to grow faster than hormone-receptor-positive cancers.
3 negative breast cancer (TNBC) that does not respond to estrogen and progesterone. It also does not react with a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. TNBC is more common in young and African-American women. It is also the type of breast cancer with a lower survival rate.
HER2-positive breast cancer: HER2 stands for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. HER2 proteins are found on the outside of breast cells and promote cancer cell growth. . Cancer cells with higher than normal levels of HER2 are called HER2- positive. These cancer cells often spread and grow faster than other types of breast cancer, but are also considered to respond well to treatments that target the HER2 protein directly. Your HER2 status can help determine how dangerous your cancer is and what treatment will be most appropriate.

Diagnosis of breast cancer in younger women (under 40 years of age) is more difficult because their breast tissue is usually denser than breast tissue in older women, and routine screening is not recommended. Breast cancer in young women may flare up more aggressively and be less likely to respond to treatment. Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age are more likely to have genetic mutations that predispose them to breast and other cancers. Younger women with breast cancer may ignore warning signs, such as a lump in the breast or unusual discharge, because they believe they are too young to develop breast cancer. This can lead to delays in diagnosis and poorer outcomes. Some doctors, due to inexperience or subjectivity, may also remove breast lumps or other symptoms in young women or adopt a "wait and see" approach. Breast cancer poses additional challenges for young women as it can be associated with problems related to sex, fertility, and pregnancy after breast cancer treatment.

In general, treatment recommendations for young women are similar to those for any breast cancer patient with the same stage of disease. Treatment decisions are usually based on the stage of the disease (tumor size, lymph node involvement), tumor type, receptor status, and other characteristics of the tumor. Patient factors, such as menopausal status, fertility concerns, and other patient preferences may also be considered when planning appropriate treatment. Surgery and radiation are often used to control disease in the breast and lymph nodes (by removing and removing it) and to prevent disease recurrence in those places. Chemotherapy and other systemic therapies prevent and control disease elsewhere in the body.
4.1 Surgery Many young women can safely undergo breast-conserving surgery and radiation to treat breast cancer if their breast cancer is in its early stages. If you need to have a mastectomy, which is the removal of the entire breast, you can ask your surgeon to preserve your nipples. If you plan to have cosmetic surgery afterward to reconstruct your breasts, this may allow your plastic surgeon to give you a more natural-looking breast.
However, not all young women are good candidates for breast-conserving therapy. An exception is young women with a genetic mutation that causes breast cancer. These genetic mutations can be inherited or be a new spontaneous mutation. For patients with a genetic defect who are at increased risk for breast cancer, bilateral mastectomy may be a better option. If a mastectomy is recommended, most women will have the option of considering reconstructive surgery.
Factors influencing the decision to have surgery include: tumor size, extent, location, cosmetic results, previous radiation, presence of genetic mutations (such as BRCA) and preference patient preferences.
Some women may also consider having an unaffected mastectomy at the same time as breast cancer surgery. This is called a prophylactic side mastectomy. While this is an option and may be recommended for some women (such as those with BRCA mutations), it has not been shown to improve survival for women without the mutation. gene.
4.2 Radiation Therapy Young women who have a lumpectomy will have radiation therapy to the breast and possibly nearby lymph nodes. If you have a mastectomy, most women don't need radiation. Factors that influence radiation decisions are similar to those for surgery and may include: size, extent, tumor location, lymph node involvement, type of surgery performed, radiation prior radiation or other contraindications to radiation, and patient preferences.
4.3 Chemotherapy Chemotherapy recommendations for young women are based on the biology of breast cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's medical history. Current treatment outcomes are similar across age groups and appear to be more similar regardless of age. The use of drugs that suppress ovarian function in premenopausal women may also be considered to preserve fertility.
4.4 Endocrine therapy Similar to chemotherapy, hormone-blocking therapy recommendations are based on disease stage and tumor biology, but age of endocrine therapy is considered a factor in the selection of therapy. hormone blocking. For example, postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (ER/PR+) tumors are often treated with aromatase inhibitors, but this specific treatment is not usually available for those with younger age (premenopausal women) unless ovarian suppression is also part of treatment. Instead, most young women with hormone receptor-positive disease (ER/PR+) are given Tamoxifen, which will be recommended for 5 to 10 years.
4.5 Medications Medications used that are aromatase inhibitors are not recommended for women who have not gone through menopause. These drugs treat estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer by blocking the aromatase enzyme. Aromatase converts androgens into estrogens. Without estrogen, tumors cannot grow. Women who have not gone through menopause still produce estrogen in their ovaries. This means that aromatase inhibitors will only work if you are also taking medication to stop the ovaries from producing estrogen.
4.6 Genetic testing Based on current guidelines, any woman diagnosed with breast cancer under age 45 should consider genetic testing. Breast cancer-related gene mutations are more common in young women with breast cancer. These harmful mutations account for 4-6% of all breast cancers in women under the age of 40. The most common gene mutations that cause breast cancer in young women are the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, although there are other mutations that have also been linked to breast cancer in young women. Genetic testing is important because certain treatment decisions, such as the choice of a bilateral mastectomy, can be influenced by the results. In addition, genetic mutations can put a person at increased risk for cancers other than breast cancer. If a patient is diagnosed with a genetic mutation, their blood relatives
4.7 Clinical Trials Depending on where you seek treatment, you may have the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial. Participating in a clinical trial can give you access to a treatment option that would otherwise not be available. Participation in a clinical trial is never required, but can be a good option for many women.

For women with a family history of a genetic predisposition to breast cancer, it is recommended that they be examined at a reputable genetics facility. The identification of such genetic conditions will allow for a more personalized discussion of screening and preventive treatment options. For example, screening for BRCA mutation carriers begins at age 25.
Measures all women can take to reduce breast cancer risk include:
Achieving and maintaining body weight Ideal Limit alcohol intake Exercise regularly Breastfeeding That said, if breast cancer develops, early detection and prompt treatment can greatly increase a woman's chances of survival. More than 90% of women with early-stage breast cancer will survive.
Young women should receive breast awareness counseling and report any breast changes to their healthcare provider. These changes may include:
Tumor in the breast Nipple discharge Where the pain is concentrated Changes in the skin around the breast Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the hospitals that not only ensures professional quality with a team of leading medical doctors, a system of modern equipment and technology, but also outstanding with comprehensive and professional medical examination, consultation and treatment services; civilized, polite, safe and sterile medical examination and treatment space.