More work needs to be done across Australia to raise awareness, educate and support young Australian women about breast cancer, based on recent health data.
Latest figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) show that breast cancer was the second leading cause of death for women aged 25 – 44 in 2023, a concerning statistic for a cohort that is mistakenly seen as a low risk for the deadly disease.
So Brave CEO Rachelle Panitz said increased awareness and education work has never been more vital to help change perceptions about breast cancer in young women in Australia.
“While there are more breast cancer survivors than ever before, it is deeply troubling to see that breast cancer is still the second-leading cause of death among young women,” said Ms Panitz.
“One of the biggest myths is that someone can be too young to have breast cancer. Cancer doesn’t discriminate, cancer doesn’t care, and we need to step-up how we raise awareness and educate our community on the very real risk of breast cancer in young women.
“In partnership with education and awareness, we need to keep campaigning for young women to have earlier access to breast cancer diagnosis initiatives and more support post-diagnosis and treatment. This includes continuing to advocate for blood tests for earlier diagnosis, access to targeted treatments, and more mental health support in the recovery marathon.”
Play a part in early detection
While advocating for early access to cancer diagnosis tools and more support during and post-treatment continues, all young women can play a part in early detection to give themselves the best chance of treatment and recovery:
- Don’t wait for symptoms – be proactive. Give yourself regular self-checks or ask your health professional to help. Touch for lumps or thickening, look for any changes and feel for anything unusual.
- Don’t let your concerns be dismissed. If you’re not sure, speak to your local health professional and seek a second opinion if you’re still uncertain.
- Don’t assume you’re too young. While breast cancer is more prevalent in older women, it doesn’t discriminate and was still the second-leading cause of death in young women according to the latest health data,
“It’s really important that young women know what they can do to give themselves the best chance of early diagnosis and treatment,” said Ms Panitz.
“These are really simple things someone can do, but early detection can literally save a life. Make self-checks a habit and remember, you know your body more than anyone.”