A report from the
American Cancer Society has found that while the number of women dying from cancer has decreased 44% in the past 35 years, there has been an increase in women under 50 being diagnosed with breast cancer.
The report also showed that Black women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are more likely to die than women of other ethnicities or races.
Dr. Susan Boolbol, of Nuvance Health, says young women need to start with their primary care doctor or gynecologist.
"We don't know why this is happening. We know what we can do about it. We can screen more effectively. A breast cancer screening with mammography should start at age 40 for average risk women, The question is, how does someone know if they're average risk? Risk screening or risk assessment should actually be done in your late 20s or 30 years old, the latest," she says.
Doctors say well defined
risk assessment tools for breast cancer online can help women determine when they should start routine screening.
"That's where we can make a big impact for the high-risk population," says Dr. Mia Kazanjian of Norwalk Radiology Consultants
Kazanjian tells News 12 once patients have had a screening, she is able to search for a sign that cancer cells are present.
"I can find abnormalities that are just tiny, tiny millimeters before it's something anyone can feel or it becomes clinically apparent," says Kazanjian.
Doctors say because tiny cancer cells are the most treatable, more women who have breast cancer are able to live a regular life expectancy following their diagnosis.