Mission

The mission of the YCBH, a global initiative of the Breast Cancer in Young Women (BCYW) Foundation, is to protect the lives of young women on campuses by raising awareness about breast health, breast cancer symptoms and risk factors, promoting prevention and early detection, and sharing global advancements with the goal of a future free from breast cancer.

Why It Matters

Breast cancer, once mainly seen in older women, is increasingly affecting those under 40. This rise is driven by factors such as limited awareness of breast health and cancer, lack of self-breast care, and lifestyle choices that could help prevent breast cancer. In addition, biological and genetic factors contribute to this shift. Young breast cancer patients face unique challenges, including advance stage diagnosis that differ from those experienced by women diagnosed at older groups.

According to Population Pyramid, approximately one-third (29.94%) of the world’s female population in 2022 was aged 15–34. Alarmingly, 47.5% of breast cancer cases in women under 39 occur in the 20–34 age group, with 16.4% in the 20–29 age group, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). These statistics underscore the urgent need to empower young women with knowledge about breast cancer risk factors, symptoms, self-care, and preventive and risk reduction measures.

The WHO predicts a rise in breast cancer cases among women under 39 by 2050, with the average age of diagnosis expected to be 33.72 years in 2040. This means that individuals who may be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2040 are currently around 17–18 years old. The global rise in breast cancer incidence among young women is driven by several factors, including limited awareness of breast health and cancer, lack of self-breast care, lifestyle choices, etc.

This highlights the critical importance of early, targeted interventions and prevention strategies to reduce breast cancer risk and ensure timely diagnosis among young women to reduce breast cancer risk and improve outcomes.