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Review
. 2009 Jun;36(3):237-49.
doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2009.03.001.

Breast cancer before age 40 years

Carey K Anders  1 , Rebecca Johnson, Jennifer Litton, Marianne Phillips, Archie Bleyer
Affiliations
Review

Breast cancer before age 40 years

Carey K Anders et al. Semin Oncol. 2009 Jun.

Abstract

Approximately 7% of women with breast cancer are diagnosed before the age of 40 years, and this disease accounts for more than 40% of all cancer in women in this age group. Survival rates are worse when compared to those in older women, and multivariate analysis has shown younger age to be an independent predictor of adverse outcome. Inherited syndromes, specifically BRCA1 and BRCA2, must be considered when developing treatment algorithms for younger women. Chemotherapy, endocrine, and local therapies have the potential to significantly impact both the physiologic health-including future fertility, premature menopause, and bone health-and the psychological health of young women as they face a diagnosis of breast cancer.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Breast cancer in females by single year of age at diagnosis, SEER17, 2000-2005. The yellow zone designates the 20- to 39-year age range.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cumulative percent of breast cancer in females, SEER17, 2000-2005.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Incidence of breast cancer in females by 6-year eras, 1975-2000, SEER9.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Incidence of breast cancer in females per calendar year, 2000-2004, SEER17.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Five-year relative survival of females diagnosed with breast cancer during 2000-2005, SEER17. The numbers above the bars designate the number of patients with breast cancer in the SEER17 registry for 2000-2005. Data obtained on January 20, 2009 from the SEER Program (www.seer.cancer.gov) SEER*Stat Database: Incidence - SEER 17 Regs Limited-Use + Hurricane Katrina Impacted Louisiana Cases, Nov 2007 Sub (1973-2005 varying), linked to county attributes, total US, 1969-2005 counties, National Cancer Institute, DCCPS, Surveillance Research Program, Cancer Statistics Branch, released April 2008, based on the November 2007 submission.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Five-year relative survival of females diagnosed with breast cancer during 1975-1999 by stage, SEER9. The numbers in parentheses designate the number of patients with breast cancer in the SEER9 registry for 2000-2005. Data obtained on from SEER Program (www.seer.cancer.gov) SEER*Stat Database: Incidence–SEER9.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Ten-year relative survival of females diagnosed with breast cancer during 1975-1980, 1981-1986 and 1987-1993, SEER9.
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References

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