Women under 50 affected by breast cancer exceeds 10,000

The number of women under 50 who are diagnosed with breast cancer annually has surpassed 10,000, research shows.

A study by Cancer Research UK found that one in five breast cancer cases are in woman under 50, with the number being diagnosed every year now approaching 50,000.

In 1995 in the UK, roughly 7,700 women under 50 were diagnosed with breast cancer, though this rose to over 10,000 in 2010, while incidence rates rose by 11 per cent.

It appears that the rates of breast cancer are increasing in this age group, with alcohol intake and hormonal factors both having an influence on the disease.

Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK’s director of health information, said: “Breast cancer is more common in older women but these figures show that younger women are also at risk of developing the disease.

“Women of all ages who notice anything different about their breasts, including changes in size, shape or feel, a lump or thickening, nipple discharge or rash, dimpling, puckering or redness of the skin, should see their GP straight away, even if they have attended breast cancer screening.”

Although there is an increase in the number of women under 50 diagnosed with breast cancer, the rate of women in this age group dying from the disease has dropped by 40 per cent since the early of 1990s.

“The number of cases in women under 50 diagnosed with breast cancer is increasing slowly, but thanks to research, awareness and improved care more women than ever before are surviving the disease,” Ms Hiom continued.

More than eight in 10 women diagnosed with breast cancer prior to the age of 50 now survive their disease for a minimum of five years.

Cancer Research’s laboratory work is helping to produce a number of drugs, including tamoxifen and herceptin.

Posted by Ben Evans