Young Women and Breast Cancer: Understand Your Ris...

[x]   Tags: breast cancer risk, breast cancer, breast cancer statistics, breast cancer screening, breast health, breasts, womens health, cancer, Health, Health Video, Medical Videos, Medical, Video

[x]   Transcript: As scary as it may sound, it's generally acknowledged that about 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. Fully two-thirds of these women develop the disease AFTER age 50, so it's little wonder that younger women often don't think the disease poses a threat to them. The truth, though, is that 5 to 7% of all breast cancer cases occur in women younger than 40. For example, 36-year-old actress, Christina Applegate, underwent a double mastectomy to treat her breast cancer, while singer Kylie Minogue, also 36 at the time, underwent surgery, radiation, AND chemotherapy. Younger women like Applegate and Minogue often have one or more risk factors for the disease, such as having a mother, sister, or daughter with breast cancer. In truth, this element alone makes a woman two to three times more likely to develop the disease. Likewise, breast cancer may be triggered by a genetic defect on one of two genes, called BRCA1 and BRCA 2. On estimation, one in 200 women carries these genes, and that increases their lifetime breast cancer risk to between 56 and 85%. Women who have received radiation therapy to the chest before the age of 40 are also more likely to develop breast cancer, as are those with a personal history of breast cancer or other breast diseases. Lifestyle factors, like being obese and drinking heavily, may also play a role in the early development of breast cancer. SOME studies indicate that women who use oral contraceptives may be at slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer. But contradicting research on the Pill's relationship to breast cancer exists, meaning that studies are ongoing. Whatever the cause of breast cancer, it can be much harder to detect in women under 40. That's because younger breast tissue is naturally denser, making tumors harder to feel. Plus, many young women ignore the warning signs they DO notice, believing that breast cancer can't happen to them. The takeaway here is that early detection and prompt treatment of breast cancer can lead to a 98% chance of survival. For this reason, if you're under 40 and concerned that you are at risk - like all women, you should be vigilant about your breast health, and communicate all concerns with your doctor.

[x]   Bio: Dr. Jennifer Walden is one of a relatively small number of female plastic surgeons in New York City, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and fellowship-trained in cosmetic surgery. She is very interested in women's health issues as they relate to plastic surgery and breast health.

Dr. Walden is currently an Attending in Plastic Surgery at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat and Lenox Hill Hospitals, and has the academic appointment of Clinical Instructor of Surgery (Plastic Surgery) at New York University Langone Medical Center. She is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. She currently serves as Program Director of the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital's Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship, one of the foremost training programs of cosmetic surgery in the nation.

A regular in the media, Dr. Walden's appeared on national news outlets such as Fox News Channel and E! TV's Dr. 90210, ABC's 20/20 and CBS's The Early Show. Her comments have also appeared in Vogue, Cosmopolitan and The New York Sun.

A native Texan, Dr. Walden received her undergraduate education at the University of Texas at Austin, graduating with Honors with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. She then went on to receive her Medical Doctorate with Highest Honors, graduating as the Salutatorian at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Visit her website: http://www.drjenniferwalden.com