By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Breast cancer, long considered a disease affecting older women, is increasingly being diagnosed in those under 45 — a growing concern for doctors and researchers across the country, including in Alabama.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast cancer incidence among women younger than 45 has risen by about 0.7% each year since 2001, with rates climbing even faster since 2012. The American Cancer Society also reports that cases in women under 50 have increased by 1.4% annually over the last decade.
In Alabama, the female breast cancer rate is 121.8 per 100,000 women, with nearly 4,500 new cases and 720 deathsexpected in 2025, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH).
Dr. Virginia Borges, Director of the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Program at the University of Colorado, told KRDO News,
“The guidelines have gone back and forth over time as to whether women should start screening at 40 … I’m a big proponent of starting at 40 because of who I see in my clinic.”
Younger women often face more aggressive cancers and are typically diagnosed at later stages, since screening guidelines primarily target older women. Experts cite multiple contributors — including obesity, delayed childbirth, hormonal exposure, and environmental triggers — as potential reasons for the rise.
A recent Columbia University study found that early-onset breast cancer rates are growing unevenly across the U.S., with regional variations linked to lifestyle and access to care.
Public health officials encourage younger women to know their risk, talk with their doctors about earlier screening, and advocate for equitable access to mammograms and genetic testing.
“We’re seeing more young women facing diagnoses once thought uncommon for their age,” said Dr. Borges. “Awareness and early detection can truly save lives.”