5 Things Young Women Need To Know About Breast Cancer

By elaine.kiew on 07 Mar 2019

Breast cancer is the silent killer that women know about but do not think about, and that has to change. If you think you are too young, these 5 things will change your mind and encourage you to start taking action now.

#1 Breast cancer can occur at any time

Besides lung cancer and colon cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Singapore. The scariest? It creeps into your life quietly. Today, one in 14 women will develop breast cancer before they turn 75, and the number has more doubled in the past 40 years.

#2 Obese women are at a higher risk of breast cancer

Obesity itself is a risk factor for breast cancer and should be avoided at all costs. If you are one of those women who like to eat to your heart's content and indulge in fast or convenient food, it is time to get out of the red zone, exercise regularly and make a change before it is too late.

#3 All women are at risk with or without a family history

Every year, 1930 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and over 400 women die from it. According to a 2015 report by National Registry of Diseases Office, the annual incidence of breast cancer in Singapore has more than doubled and this is clearly a red flag. Relating back to #2, we would like to think that our lifestyle does make a difference.

Among those diagnosed with breast cancer, 9 in 10 women do not have a family history while 7 in 10 women do not have any risk factor.

And guess what? The risks of you getting breast cancer increases with age if you have had relatives diagnosed with it! The list also extends to your family histories of ovarian cancers. Oh, even those who walked away with a non-cancerous breast disease too.

#4 There are no pain or symptoms in its early stages

In its early stages, there are no pain or symptoms for breast cancer at all.

This means that while you are busy having fun on Friday nights or indulging in your guilty pleasures, this silent killer could already be creeping into your life.

#5 Regular screening is your best defence

There is a common preconception among many who thinks that breast cancer (or any cancer in general) is a 'death sentence'. It is not.

When detected and treated early, the survival rate exceeds 90 per cent. Besides mastectomy, there are improved treatment options available today that can contribute to that.

According to the 2015 report by the National Registry of Diseases Office, the chances of breast cancer patients recovering from each stage is as follows:

Stage 1: 90.6%
Stage 2: 80%
Stage 3: 64.9%
Stage 4: 21%

Now that I know the dangers of breast cancer and the importance of early detection, how can I go about doing it?

Early detection can save lives and there is no better way to do it than getting yourself checked. We strongly urge you to take just ten minutes of your time every month to do a self-examination on your breasts. Find out how to do it here.

While you are performing these checks, do remember to spread this awareness to all loved ones around you. Women aged 40 and above face higher risks and should go for your mammogram screening annually while those above 50 should screen once in two years unless otherwise specified by your doctor.

Spread some love this International Women's Day and share this post with a girlfriend who needs to be in the know about Breast Cancer!