Tracye Lewis detected a lump in her breast during a self examination at age 33. A mammogram later found the lump to be cancerous. Although there is a history of breast cancer in her family, Lewis was still shocked and startled by her diagnosis. But because her cancer was detected early her chances for beating the cancer were greater, said Lewis, who had a lumpectomy in April 1999. Dr. Gerry Ann Houston, an oncologist with Jackson Oncology Associates, said younger women should not allow anything detected in their breasts to be dismissed.
Young women do get breast cancer.
I see people every week in here in their 30s with breast cancer and a few people in their 20s. Lewis said because there is no cure for breast cancer some women are fearful of being examined and being diagnosed with the disease. Although it may be frightening, a breast cancer diagnosis at a young age is not a death sentence, said Lewis, who is now in remission after eight rounds of chemotherapy and seven weeks of radiation. She counsels women who have been recently diagnosed with the disease as an ACS Reach to Recovery volunteer. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service.