Despite the prevailing opinion that young women don't get breast cancer, the reality is that they can and they do. In fact, one in every 229 women between the ages of 30 and 39 will be diagnosed with breast cancer within the next 10 years¹. Following are some additional startling facts about breast cancer in young women:

• Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in young women ages 15-54².
• More than 11,100 women under age 40 will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and more than 1,100 will die³.
• There are more than 250,000 women living in the United States today who were age 40 or under when they were diagnosed with breast cancer⁴.
• Young women's cancers are generally more aggressive and result in lower survival rates.
• The five-year survival rate for young women with breast cancer is 82 percent, which is lower than their post-menopausal counterparts⁵.
• Young women with breast cancer struggle with many issues that their post-menopausal counterparts don't face, including: the possibility of early menopause, pregnancy after diagnosis, generally more advanced cancers at diagnosis, and higher mortality rates.
• As the incidence of young women with breast cancer is much lower than in older women, young women are an underrepresented population in many research studies.

The need for more attention and studies on this underserved population is vital. The Young Survival Coalition is the only international non-profit organization dedicated to the concerns and issues unique to young women and breast cancer. Through action, advocacy and awareness, the YSC seeks to educate the medical, research, breast cancer and legislative communities and persuade them to address breast cancer in women 40 and under. Finally, the YSC serves as a point of contact for young women living with breast cancer.

¹ NCI, SEER data updated 4/05

² National Cancer Institute 2005 Fact Book

³ American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Facts and Figures 2005-2006

⁴ Figure based on the 2000 US Census data

⁵ American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Facts and Figures 2005-2006

⁶ American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Facts and Figures 2005-2006