Dear Lunanoire
Thank you for sharing your concerns about advice for young women.
While breast cancer in very young women is rare, we know that just under 800 women under the age of 40 are likely to be diagnosed this year. We also know that younger women’s experiences with breast cancer are often different from those of older women for a variety of reasons.
Our priorities for younger women have included the provision of a decision aid to help women understand their choices around fertility before undergoing breast cancer treatment, an information booklet for women going through early menopause as a result of breast cancer treatment, awareness of the genetic risks for young women with a strong family history of breast cancer and advocating for government subsidised programs such as childcare.
It is correct that free screening mammograms are not available to women under the age of 40, however there is a Medicare rebate for breast MRI screening for young women (under 50) who are at high risk of developing breast cancer. There is more information about this on our website and we continue to advocate that the rebate for MRI's be extended to young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
While we support awareness of breast cancer at all ages, our mission is to support those who have been diagnosed or affected by breast cancer. We will continue to support young women who are diagnosed through our information resources and advocacy work.
We are aware that the McGrath Foundation and Breast Cancer Care WA offer school programs which you may be interested in.
Hope this helps! Feel free to message me with any queries.
Eliisa
