Founder, chief executive officer, president, and chairman of the board of the Breast Cancer in Young Women (BCYW) foundation Dr Rakesh Kumar unpacks the increased incidence of breast cancer in young women under 40. 

He explains the importance of mammography screening and the advancement of options for younger women regarding screening. Dr Kumar joins Yolanda Maartens this Pinktober from Colorado in the USA to share his message with listeners. 

When a young woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, she faces many other challenges that her older counterparts do not necessarily have to deal with. 

Young patients with breast cancer face numerous unique personal, social, and medical difficulties not applicable to women who develop breast cancer at a later age. 

These challenges range from emotional issues to social disconnection, loss of career prospects, career disruption, economic distress, concerns related to fertility, starting a family, or caring for a young family, as well as the physical and psychosexual side effects of antiestrogen therapy and premature menopause.

In addition, some young women may find it equally challenging to persuade their doctors to undergo thorough check-ups instead of dismissing their concerns because of their age.

 Breast Cancer in Young Women Foundation

The incidence of breast cancer in young women, under 40 years of age, is increasing all over the world. 

Kumar feels strongly that young women should be aware of their bodies and take responsibility for early detection by noticing changes in their own bodies.

BCYW foundation saving lives

The BCYW foundation is established as a nonprofit organisation dedicated to saving the lives of young women with breast cancer through research, education, and survivorship. 

The incidence of breast cancer in young women, under 40 years of age, is increasing in the US and most other parts of the world. 

After listening to the accounts of practicing oncologist colleagues describing their young patients with breast cancer asking “why me?”, Kumar and his team realised these young women could be their daughters or granddaughters at some future date and were inspired to create a comprehensive platform focusing solely on this age group. Dr Rakesh Kumar. Photo supplied

The foundation’s goals are to lower the incidence of breast cancer in young women and to improve the quality of life and the chance of cure for those who do develop the disease. 

The BCYW foundation also bestows funding to increase awareness of breast cancer in young women and the importance of breast self-checks, thereby empowering young women with the knowledge to detect the disease at an early stage when the probability of cure is highest.

The foundation’s vision is to create a reality in which the death of a young woman from breast cancer becomes a rare event.

Diving further into the unique challenges faced by younger women battling breast cancer, Yolanda Maartens invites Dr Liana Roodt onto Mid-Morning Magic.

Roodt plays multiple roles in South Africa’s breast cancer awareness and advocacy landscape – notably as the founder and executive director of Project Flamingo, and as a board executive of the Cancer Alliance of South Africa.

She unpacks the unique challenges young women diagnosed with breast cancer face, referencing the importance of advocacy and working for change at legislation level together with the Cancer Alliance. 

Roodt feels strongly that young women need to understand that they, too, are at risk of getting breast cancer and need to empower themselves with knowledge. 

Project Flamingo is a successful non-profit company that addresses the long and distressing treatment waiting times faced by breast cancer patients in the public health care sector. 

Dr Liana Roodt. Photo supplied

In 2022, women under 39 accounted for approximately 10.71% of breast cancer cases worldwide. Nearly half (47.5%) of BCYW cases occur in the 20–34 years’ age group, which is below the recommended age for mammography screening.

Knowing all of this, organisations like the BCYW foundation and Project Flamingo urge for action and awareness.

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