Breast cancer can affect women at any age. In Australia, over 12,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year. Of these, about 6% are in women younger than 40 years and around 18% are in women aged between 40 and 49 years.
The National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre has information for women with early breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer and for women with ductal carcinoma in situ, lobular carcinoma in situ and atypical hyperplasias of the breast.
If you are younger than 40 when your breast cancer is diagnosed, you are likely to face different issues in your treatment and follow-up than older women with the disease. You might be concerned about the effects of treatment on your ability to have children, your sexuality or your body image, or you might be worried about what your diagnosis means for your future and for your family. When deciding about treatment, you will need to balance the benefits in terms of your survival with the effects of the treatment on your quality of life. Before your treatment starts, ask your doctors as many questions as you need to.
Some examples of the questions you might want to ask your doctors are listed below:
- Treatment options
- The future
- Having children
- Body image
- Sexuality and relationship
- Family and friends
- Financial and practical help
- Feelings
Treatment options
- What type of surgery do you recommend? What will this involve?
- What are the benefits of radiotherapy for me? What side effects can I expect?
- What are the benefits of chemotherapy for me? What side effects can I expect?
- Am I suitable for hormone therapy? What are the benefits for me? What side effects can I expect?
- Are there any clinical trials that are suitable for me?
- Are there any complementary therapies that might help me?
- If I have to travel a long way for treatment, can I get any assistance with travel and accommodation costs?
- If I am pregnant at the time of diagnosis, what treatment options are available and will they affect my child?
The future
- What effect will treatment have on my life expectancy?
- How likely is it that my breast cancer will come back in the future?
- What are the long-term effects of the treatment being offered?
Having children
- If I want to have children/another child in the future, which treatment is best for me?
- Can I see a fertility specialist before treatment?
- If my periods stop during/after treatment, does that mean I can’t get pregnant? Will my periods come back?
- Will having a child/another child in the future affect my risk of the breast cancer coming back?
- Will I be able to breast feed after treatment?
Body image
- If I have a mastectomy, can I have a breast reconstruction at the same time?
- If I have a mastectomy, what are my options for breast reconstruction and what is the recovery time for each option?
- If I have a mastectomy, should I see a plastic surgeon before surgery?
- Am I likely to put on weight during and after treatment? What can I do to reduce this?
- Will I lose my hair during/after treatment? Will it grow back?
- Can I still exercise during and after treatment?
- Am I likely to develop lymphoedema and what can I do to reduce this risk?
Sexuality and relationships
- Am I likely to experience difficulties in my sexual relationships after treatment? Can I talk to someone about my concerns/difficulties?
- Where can my husband/partner go for support? Can we have counselling together?
- Am I likely to develop menopausal symptoms and what can I do to cope with these?
- What are my options for contraception during and after treatment?
Family and friends
- How should I tell my children about my breast cancer?
- How should I tell my parents about my breast cancer?
- Can I speak to someone about my family history of breast cancer?
- What should I tell my friends/work colleagues?
Financial and practical help
- Who can I speak to about getting financial help, child care and home help during treatment?
Feelings
Tell your doctors or breast care nurse how you are feeling and let them know about any concerns you have, however trivial they might seem to you. You might feel anxious, depressed, upset or scared – these are all normal responses. Talking to your family and friends, or to other women with breast cancer, or reading about the experiences of other women can help. The Cancer Helpline on 13 11 20 can give you information about support groups in your area. If your feelings are causing you concern, your doctor can refer you to a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist.
Looking on the internet can be helpful although you need to be aware that not all information on the internet is accurate or relevant for Australia. Our website www.breasthealth.com.au is a good place to start as all of the links provided are credible information sources.
Breast Cancer Network Australia’s website www.bcna.org.au has a section devoted to young women with breast cancer, with personal stories, information about support groups and services relevant for young women with breast cancer and their families.
Ask your doctors or breast care nurse if you find information from any source that you’re unsure about. The important thing to remember is that you don’t have to cope alone – ask questions, ask for help when you need it and share your feelings with those close to you.
Note
In March 2004, the National Breast Cancer Centre* released Clinical practice guidelines for the management and support of younger women with breast cancer. These guidelines for doctors are based on up-to-date evidence and will help doctors provide information about treatment options and best care to younger women with breast cancer.
* In February 2008, National Breast Cancer Centre (NBCC) changed its name to National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC).
