The increase is 45% for women in their 20s, 12.5% ​​for women in their 30s and 9% for women in their 40s, Dr. Jean Seely, Head of Breast Imaging Specialists at the Ottawa Hospital Professor at the University of Ottawa.

“In my practice I see more and more young women with breast cancer,” said Dr. Seely. We used to never see breast cancer in women in their 20s, and now it’s a regular occurrence. It’s very scary. »

Dr. Seely and her team analyzed breast cancer cases over a 35-year period to identify trends in detection among young women across the country.

These cancers, the specialist recalled, are often only diagnosed in more advanced stages because even front-line doctors do not always have the reflex to recommend their young patients for more in-depth examinations when they discover an abnormality during a routine examination.

Therefore, educational work must be carried out on both the patient side and the health care professional side, said Dr. Seely.

“My patients often can’t believe it and usually tell me, ‘I’m healthy, I exercise, I don’t have any risk factors, why is this happening?'” she said. And in my daily practice I have to explain to them that it’s not because we think they did something wrong. We don’t understand what’s happening. »

This increase, which is reminiscent of the increase in colon cancer cases among younger and younger patients, therefore remains unexplained for the time being, even if different hypotheses are mentioned.

In particular, there could be a connection with lifestyle changes or an earlier onset of menstruation, explained Dr. Seely. We also know that there is a link with alcohol consumption, particularly among young women.

“But many women don’t have any of these risk factors and we’re still seeing that increase,” she said. So we can only imagine that there must be some environmental or nutritional factor that increases the risk. »

This study, added Dr. Seely added, women in their 20s, 30s and 40s should be made aware that they can have breast cancer, that the disease doesn’t just affect their neighbors or co-workers, “and we need to dispel the myth that it is.” associated with age.”

“In young women, the incidence remains very low,” she concluded. We don’t want to unsettle people. But if a woman notices a change in her breasts, she should definitely take care of it. And if her GP doesn’t request further testing, she really should insist on it. »

The results of this study were published in Journal of the Canadian Association of Radiologists.