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Advanced Breast Cancer in Young Women More Common

A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that advanced breast cancer is showing up more frequently in younger women between the ages of 25 and 39. Over 30 years ago, roughly 1.5 young women in 100,000 were diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Three decades later, that rate had almost doubled to 2.9 women per 100,000.
Although this is still a very low incidence, the increase is worrisome. It parallels data from Switzerland which also showed an increased risk of advanced breast cancer among women in this age group. The investigators offered no explanation for the increase and suggested that there are probably a number of factors that may explain the rise in estrogen-receptor positive breast cancers.
[JAMA, Feb. 27, 2013]
You can learn more about some of the factors that affect breast health in our interview with Florence Williams, author of Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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