Your first mammogram is years away. You're not at risk for breast cancer—or are you? Unfortunately, the answer is yes, and the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine is leading the charge to offer support and care for young women with breast cancer

“The diagnosis was shocking, confusing and devastating all at the same time,” says one 32-year-old breast cancer survivor, who was diagnosed in 2004 and lives in St. Louis with her husband and five children. “Even though breast cancer was prevalent in my family, I wasn't just sitting around planning for it to attack my body. But that's exactly what happened.”

Though breast cancer occurs most frequently in older women, as many as 12 percent of women are diagnosed before the age of 45. For these younger women, the disease affects them differently.

“Younger women face different challenges than older women,” says Jen Ivanovich, genetic counselor at Siteman and director of the Young Women's Breast Cancer Program. “They could be pregnant or thinking about pregnancy, or they may be raising a family. They have different considerations for treatment. In addition, the disease is typically more aggressive than in older women

Targeting a Younger Audience

In an effort to help younger women cope with breast cancer, Ivanovich created the Young Women's Breast Cancer Program.

“Our program is designed specifically for younger women who have been recently diagnosed and for those who are survivors,” says Ivanovich. “Our comprehensive approach aims to provide these women with a solid foundation of support and information to help them fight the disease.”

The program is one of a few in the country designed specifically for young women with breast cancer and the only one that partners with young survivors to advance research focused on early onset disease. It is funded in part by a grant from the St. Louis affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization.

“Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for women under age 40, yet not much research has been conducted in this area,” says Ivanovich. “Through our research program directed by Dr. Paul Goodfellow at Siteman, we hope to better understand what makes breast cancer different in younger women, which will then help us identify more appropriate treatments.”

Know Your Risk Factors

If you have a family history of the disease, tell your primary care physician or visit a geneticist or genetic counselor to help guide you in screening recommendations. Depending on your risk, you may require earlier or more frequent screenings. In addition, continue to perform monthly breast self-exams, which can help you catch problems early and improve your chance of recovery.

In Support of You

Siteman Cancer Center's Young Women's Breast Cancer Program includes:

• support groups designed specifically for young women with breast cancer
• yoga and stretching groups to help maintain health and fitness
• an annual symposium on all aspects of living with breast cancer
• a peer network that pairs young survivors with women who have been recently diagnosed
• education materials on a wide range of breast cancer topics pertinent to young women

For more information on the Young Women's Breast Cancer Program or for a referral to a breast cancer specialist at the Siteman Cancer Center, call 314-TOP-DOCS (314-867-3627) or toll-free 866-867-3627.