Every year between 1990 and 2020, 131,377 women aged 15 to 39 were diagnosed with breast tumors. In 2019, over 63 percent of teenage breast cancer cases came from six Asian countries, with Pakistan alone accounting for over 22 percent.

Kruxd goes behind the numbers to understand what causes the growing incidence of cancer among young females.

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Inherited genetic factors

According to the National Cancer Institute, about 13 percent of women in the general population are at risk of developing cancer at some point in their lives. However, inheritance does add to the risk. By 80 years of age, 55 percent of women who inherit a mutant BRCA1 (breast cancer 1) gene and 45 percent of women who inherit a mutated BRCA2 (breast cancer 2) gene are at risk of developing cancer.

The two genes are most commonly affected in hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. According to the US government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about 3 percent of breast cancers in the US (about 7,500 women per year) and 10 percent of ovarian cancers (about 2,000 women per year) result from inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

“Normally, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes protect you from getting certain cancers. But some mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes prevent them from working properly, so that if you inherit one of these mutations, you are more likely to get breast, ovarian, and other cancers,” states the CDC.

Young victims

Breast cancer is typically diagnosed in women in their 50s or older. The incidence of the disease has also been reported in women under 40 years of age. In 2019 alone, more than 160,000 women in the age group of 15-39 years were affected by breast cancer globally, with 42,059 of them eventually succumbing to the disease.

Prevalence in Asian countries

Country-wise data for breast cancer shows that it is most prevalent among young women (15 to 39 years of age) in Asian countries. Three Asian countries – China (368,375 cases), India (18,534 cases), and Indonesia (9701 cases) are among the five worst hit globally.

High incidence of teenage breast cancer

Globally, 2746 teenage girls suffered from breast cancer in 2019. Pakistan alone accounted for 613 of these cases – over 22 percent. Together with India (434), Indonesia (287), China (230) and Bangladesh (187), five Asian countries made up over 63 percent of the world’s teenage cancer cases.

How to reduce the risk?

Breast cancer is caused by a number of connected factors, some of which may be beyond one’s control. These include ageing, genetic mutations, reproductive history, or being born to Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. Ashkenazi Jews, whose ancestors are from central or eastern Europe, have been found to have genetic mutations that increase their risk of certain cancers and disorders.

Risks also increase with physical inactivity. Being obese after menopause, using contraceptive pills, having a first pregnancy after 30, insufficient breastfeeding, taking hormone supplements during menopause, and drinking alcohol can be contributory factors. A doctor should be consulted if a lump, mass, or any other changes are noticed, and screening mammography should be carried out for early detection. It is also advised to conduct medically safe and permitted self examinations.