Understanding Breast Cancer Risks and Awareness in Young Women

This report addresses the critical health concern of breast cancer among young women in the United States, emphasizing that the disease does not discriminate by age. The report highlights a video featuring young women advocating for early diagnosis, despite facing initial dismissal from healthcare providers. It notes that approximately 5% of breast cancer cases occur in women under 40, amounting to around 12,000 cases annually. The report stresses the vulnerability of younger women to breast cancer and advocates for increased awareness and health promotion programs to encourage early screening and diagnosis. As an awareness officer, the author would implement extensive campaigns using social media, schools, and religious institutions to sensitize young people about the importance of early detection.

Running Head: BREAST CANCER AMONG YOUNG WOMEN
Breast cancer among young women
Students Name
University Affiliation
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BREAST CANCER AMONG YOUNG WOMEN 2
Breast cancer among young women
Introduction
What is this health concern known as breast cancer? How does it relate to and affect young
women? How long should I wait to talk to a doctor? These are some of the questions which are
asked by some women, different medical professionals, and other healthcare staffs. Cancer
affects numerous women in the United States of America. It is one of the diseases which does
not discriminate against age, social status, religion or race (Jinsook Kim, Ashing-Giwa, Singer &
Tejero, 2006). In many and present health cases, numerous young women in the United States of
America are being diagnosed with breast cancer.
a. The video is talking about younger women going for early diagnosis of breast cancer
which they have described as a life-changing scenario for them. Some of the younger
women in this video like Olivia Hutcherson, was persistent to undergo breast cancer
diagnosis even though her medical officer told her that she had nothing to worry about
her condition. According to the video, there are about 5% of cases of breast cancer
happening under the age of 40 years which reflects about 12000 women yearly.
b. From the video, I can tell younger women that breast cancer does not discriminate about
age as younger women are as vulnerable as the older women. The statistics show that
younger women are also vulnerable to breast cancer just like the older women. Most
younger women do not undergo screening and diagnosis since most of them do not take
breast cancer seriously (Ju-Yu et al. 2006). With effective health promotion and
advancement programs (Mayfield-Johnson, Rachal, & Butler, 2014), the youths can take
the first step to know their status just like Hutcherson.

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c. I awareness officer in charge of breast cancer, I would ensure that effective awareness
campaigns are done. For instance, I would use social media platforms, media, schools
(Karayurt, Özmen, & Çetinkaya, 2008), religious institutions and other joints which are
used by the youths to sensitize them about early screening and diagnosis of breast cancer.

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References
https://youtu.be/1gY4F6vPxPE
Jinsook Kim, Ashing-Giwa, K. T., Singer, M. K., & Tejero, J. S. (2006). Breast Cancer Among
Asian Americans: Is Acculturation Related to Health-Related Quality of Life? Oncology
Nursing Forum, 33, E90–E99. https://doi.org/10.1188/06.ONF.E90-E99
Ju-Yu Y., Chih-Hung K., Cheng-Fang Y., Ming-Jen Y., Chiou-Yuh W., Chiung-Hui J., & Ming-
Feng H. (2006). Quality of life, depression, and stress in breast cancer women
outpatients receiving active therapy in Taiwan. Psychiatry & Clinical
Neurosciences, 60(2), 147–153. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1819.2006.01479.x
Karayurt, Ö., Özmen, D., & Çetinkaya, A. Ç. (2008). Awareness of breast cancer risk factors
and practice of breast self-examination among high school students in Turkey. BMC
Public Health, 8(1), 359–366.
Mayfield-Johnson, S., Rachal, J. R., & Butler, J. (2014). “When We Learn Better, We Do
Better”: Describing Changes in Empowerment Through Photovoice Among Community
Health Advisors in a Breast and Cervical Cancer Health Promotion Program in
Mississippi and Alabama. Adult Education Quarterly, 64(2), 91–109.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0741713614521862