Breast cancer on the rise in younger women: new report

Breast cancer death rates continue to decline among American women, a new report from the American Cancer Society finds, but diagnoses are becoming more common among younger women.

ACS researchers say about 518,000 breast cancer deaths have been prevented with the death rate falling 44% since 1989.

However, the overall incidence of breast cancer increased by 1% per year from 2012 to 2021.

During those nine years, the rate of diagnosis increased by 1.4% annually among women younger than 50, 2.5% among Asian American women, and 2.7% among Pacific Islander women.

“The encouraging news is that breast cancer death rates continue to decrease thanks to advances in early detection and treatment,” said Angela Giaquinto, lead study author and ACS associate scientist on the surveillance research team.

“But future progress may be hindered by increased incidence, especially among younger women, and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as delayed diagnosis due to interruptions in screening,” Giaquinto added.

The findings were published Tuesday in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

It is unclear why there is an increase in newer breast cancer diagnoses.

“There are all kinds of ideas we can throw out as to why, but until it’s studied, we won’t know for sure,” said Dr. Wendy Wilcox, chief of women’s health at New York City Health + Hospitals, told NBC News this week.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women after skin cancer.

Researchers predict that more than 310,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer in American women and 2,790 cases in men will be diagnosed this year.

About 42,250 women and 530 men are expected to die from the disease this year.

Dr. Elisa Port, chief of breast surgery for Mount Sinai Health System, previously told The Post that certain lifestyle behaviors can lower the risk of breast cancer.

She advises maintaining a healthy body weight and reducing alcohol consumption. She noted that women undergoing hormone replacement therapy during menopause face a slightly higher risk.

Early detection significantly improves the chances of breast cancer survival. Experts recommend that women at average risk of breast cancer be screened annually starting at age 40. Those with a family history of breast cancer and additional risk factors should consult their doctor.