Overview
- Researchers reviewed 2014–2024 records from seven outpatient centers and identified 1,799 breast cancers in 1,290 women aged 18–49.
- Most tumors in this group were invasive (80.7%), with many biologically aggressive cases including triple-negative disease, particularly under age 40.
- Younger women represented 21%–25% of those screened annually yet accounted for about one quarter of cancers each year.
- Detection was split between 41% found on screening and 59% during diagnostic evaluation, underscoring gaps for patients younger than standard screening ages.
- Authors urge individualized risk assessment and earlier surveillance for higher-risk patients, noting current U.S. guidance begins routine screening at 40–45 and that the meeting findings are regional and pending peer review.