Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women (only lung cancer kills more women each year). The chance that a woman will die from breast cancer is about 1 in 38 (about 2.6%).
If you're a teenage girl, you might be worried about your risk of getting breast cancer. Developing breast cancer when you're a teenager is extremely rare. It's also uncommon in women in their 20s and 30s. The vast majority of breast cancers are diagnosed in women over the age of 50.
Sometimes girls put on weight during puberty. This is normal and it's essential to have some body fat. Because breasts contain fatty tissue, gaining weight may increase the size of the breasts, and losing weight may make the breasts a bit smaller.
Developing breast cancer when you're a teenager is extremely rare. It's also uncommon in women in their 20s and 30s. The vast majority of breast cancers are diagnosed in women over the age of 50.
Are women under 40 at risk for breast cancer? Younger women generally do not consider themselves to be at risk for breast cancer. However, breast cancer can strike at any age: 5% of breast cancer cases occur in women under 40 years of age. All women should be aware of their personal risk factors for breast cancer.
Most female breast pain results from hormonal changes. Estrogen and progesterone can actually increase the size and number of ducts and milk glands in your breasts. This causes the breasts to swell and retain water. A few days before your period starts, both breasts can swell and become tender, painful, or even lumpy.
Most lumps or changes in your breasts that occur when you are a teen or young woman are due to normal changes in the breast tissue. If your breast just feels lumpy, check it again after your next period, since your breasts may feel different or lumpy to the touch around or before the time of your period.
If you feel a lump in your breast, don't panic — breast cancer is extremely rare in teens. For teen girls, the most common type of breast lump is usually just part of normal breast growth. This is when small fluid-filled cysts in the breasts change size based on where a girl is in her menstrual cycle.
That small lump with tenderness beneath the nipple is a normal part of puberty. In fact, about half of all boys develop gynecomastia during puberty. It's usually temporary and can happen on just one side or both. Some guys also may feel tenderness in the breast area when they go through puberty.
Although breasts don't develop in men the way they do in women, all boys are born with a small amount of breast tissue. Boys' bodies mostly make a hormone called testosterone, which guides their sexual growth during puberty. But males also make some estrogen -- the hormone that steers sexual growth in girls.
A mother finds a breast lump on her 11-year-old boy. It's very common for young boys who are going through puberty to have some swelling or enlargement of the breast tissue under the nipple.
Although breasts don't develop in men the way they do in women, all boys are born with a small amount of breast tissue. Boys' bodies mostly make a hormone called testosterone, which guides their sexual growth during puberty.
When puberty starts, lots more hormones are made in your body. It takes a while for your hormone levels to sort themselves out, and often boys will develop some breast tissue while this is happening. They get a slight swelling under one or both of the nipples and it can sometimes feel tender or sore.
Gynecomastia feels like a small, rubbery lump under the nipple(s). It can happen on one or both sides and the lump may feel sore. Some people can confuse gynecomastia with fat tissue, especially if a young man is living in a larger body.
Signs and symptoms of male breast cancer can include: A painless lump or thickening in your breast tissue. Changes to the skin covering your breast, such as dimpling, puckering, redness or scaling. Changes to your nipple, such as redness or scaling, or a nipple that begins to turn inward.
Breast cancer is extraordinarily rare in teenagers, so much so that most organizations do not keep statistics for the disease in this age group. Nevertheless, teens may worry that changes in their breasts during puberty are due to breast cancer.
Signs of breast development
- the appearance of small, firm lumps under your nipples.
- itchiness around your nipples and chest area.
- tender or soreness in your breasts.
- backaches.
The feel of a breast lump depends on its cause, location, and growth. They can vary greatly from painful, hard, and immobile to soft, painless, and easily moveable. According to BreastCancer.org, lumps are most likely to be cancerous if they do not cause pain, are hard, unevenly shaped, and immobile.
For teen girls, the most common type of breast lump is usually just part of normal breast growth. Lots of girls and women have something called fibrocystic breast changes. This is when small fluid-filled cysts in the breasts change size based on where a girl is in her menstrual cycle. a red, hot, or swollen breast.
There are different reasons why breast lumps develop. Most lumps are not cancerous and do not pose any risk. Causes include infection, trauma, fibroadenoma, cyst, fat necrosis, or fibrocystic breasts. Breast lumps may develop in both males and females, but they are much more common in females.
Though rare, it is possible for a teenager to develop breast cancer. Breast cancer, as with all cancers, occurs when normal cells begin growing and dividing out of control. Over time, this growth can form a tumor that harms healthy tissue and may spread to other areas of the body.
When a guy goes through puberty, all kinds of changes take place in his body. One of these changes can be a condition called gynecomastia, when breast tissue enlarges. That small lump with tenderness beneath the nipple is a normal part of puberty. In fact, about half of all boys develop gynecomastia during puberty.
Breast Cancer in Young Patients Is Rare
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women ages 15-54, according to the National Cancer Institute, but breast cancer in young women -- under age 40 -- is very rare. The chances of a woman getting breast cancer in her thirties is one in 250.Early breast development often begins as a lump under the nipple, which may compound worries a young teen may have about breast cancer. Though rare, it is possible for a teenager to develop breast cancer. Breast cancer, as with all cancers, occurs when normal cells begin growing and dividing out of control.
Cancer is rare in teens. Certain diseases like breast cancer usually affect adult women — teen girls are unlikely to get this form of cancer. But some types are more likely to occur in teens. Testicular cancer, for example, tends to affect younger guys rather than older men.
