What is the youngest age...?!
Question: What is the youngest age that breast cancer has been found in a woman. I'm 20 and most of the women on both sides of my family have died, been diagnosed, or at least had a scare with breast cancer. I know most women wait until their late 30's early 40's to get mammograms. I also know that I am at a very high risk for breast cancer, so am I too young to be getting a mammogram?
I definitely appreciate any answers or advice.
Answers: What is the youngest age that breast cancer has been found in a woman. I'm 20 and most of the women on both sides of my family have died, been diagnosed, or at least had a scare with breast cancer. I know most women wait until their late 30's early 40's to get mammograms. I also know that I am at a very high risk for breast cancer, so am I too young to be getting a mammogram?
I definitely appreciate any answers or advice.
Because you have strong family history of breast cancer, I would recommend that you at least have annual professional breast exams in addition to doing monthly self-exams. Have your health professional teach you how to do self exams. If you do them regularly, every month on the last day of your period so your hormones are at the same levels every time, you will get to know what is normal for you and be able to spot problem areas sooner.
Your health professional may recommend starting mammograms, or breast ultrasounds at an earlier age because of your family history.
Things you can do to keep your risk lower...don't smoke...don't use oral contraceptives containing estrogen (which unfortunately covers most of them), and avoid caffeine which can aggravate fibrocystic breast disease.
I've read in various magazines about women in their early 20's getting breast cancer. Very rare, but possible. If you are really concerned, you should do it just to feel safe.
most doctors do not refer you for a mammogram until your late 40's or 50's. however, in your situation and with the close connections that you may have with breast cancer i think it might be suggested around 30. you should talk to your doctor they can certainly help you with that. until then, you can give yourself regular breast exams, they can be powerful things!
Since you have a history of breast cancer you can if you want too. Such as when I'm 20 I plan to get my first mammogram. My mother has stage 2 breast cancer. Shes been in remission for a year and a half. Early detection is the key. And self breast exams are life savers. It saved my mothers life.
A Gyn will give you a mammogram earlier if you have a history of breast cancer in your family or if you're unsure. Mine did due to the latter reason and I had my baseline done at age 36.
You don't have to wait until you're the minimum age.. Ask your doctor to give you one now. Although he/she should have ordered one for you already.
It's possible to get it in your 20's, and since you have a strong family history of it, there's nothing wrong with getting a mammogram early on.
Since there could be a genetic predisposition in your family for this illness, I would consult early with several doctors for their opinions on how to proceed.
just because most of ur family has had breast cancer doesn't mean that u will, but if u r worried it won't hurt to get a mommogram. they shouldn't have any reasons to object