Editorial: Breast cancer in young women.

Abstract

A discussion of the management of breast cancer in young women is presented. The rate of growth of breast cancer is not influenced by the age of the patient, as reflected in the fact that the expected survival rate for women of all ages is 50% at 5 years. Although it has been reported that the time lapse for the recurrence of cancer was less for younger women with affected nodes than older women, the literature is not in agreement on this point. The prognosis for women in whom cancer is diagnosed in late pregnancy, or during lactation, is usually grave. Pregnancy subsequent to treatment of breast cancer poses problems, though it has been reported that the survival rate of pregnant women following mastectomy is improved. It is recommended that a young, nulliparous woman should not be discouraged from having children after the removal of a small localized tumor. Permanent sterilization may be preferable to oral contraception for women who probably should not have another pregnancy. In the United Kingdom, the mortality rate from breast cancer in women aged 35-44 has increased by almost 20% from 1968 to 1972. A marked reduction in the early recurrence of breast cancer in premenopausal women with nodal deposits has been reported as a result of adjuvant systemic chemotherapy.