Recent Trends in Breast Cancer Among Younger Women in the United States

Abstract

Increases in the incidence of postmenopausal breast cancers have been linked to screening and menopausal hormone use, but younger women have received less attention. Thus, we analyzed trends in breast cancer incidence (N = 387 231) using the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program 13-Registry database (1992-2004). Whites had higher incidence rates than blacks after age 40 years, but the reverse was true among younger women (black-white crossover). Among younger women, the rate per 100,000 woman-years was 16.8 for black vs 15.1 for white women; the highest black-white incidence rate ratio (IRR) was seen among women younger than 30 years (IRR = 1.52, 95% confidence interval = 1.34 to 1.73). This risk pattern was not observed in other ethnic groups. The black-white crossover among younger women was largely restricted to breast cancers with favorable tumor characteristics. The annual percentage change in the incidence of invasive breast cancers decreased modestly among older women but increased among younger (<40 years) white women. Continued surveillance of trends is needed, particularly for molecular subtypes that preferentially occur among young women.

Breast cancer in younger women in Switzerland 1996–2009: A longitudinal population-based study

“…For example, a study based on SEER data from US found a comparable trend with an increase of 1.3% per year for the period 1992e2004, among white US women less than 40 years old [11]. The canton-specific data from Switzerland, however, has been less definitive.…”

The Effects of Education Program on Knowledge and Intention of Breast Cancer Screening in Taiwan

“…Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of a periodic (regular) health exam by a health professional, at least every 3 years. Breast cancer mortality in the United States has decreased as a result of increased screening (Brinton et al, 2008;American Cancer Society, 2009).…”

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“…cancer in young women is low in developed countries (Brinton et al, 2008). However, the incidence of breast cancer among young women in the low risk population of the South Asian countries including Nepal is much higher (Pradhananga et al, 2009;Kakarala et al, 2010).…”