People We Love: Young Survival Coalition

Being a woman means being at risk for breast cancer – the risk increases sharply with age, but that doesn’t mean the young are exempt (under the age of 30, there’s a 1 in 227 risk). We hate that.

But we love that there are some things we can do. We can work to reduce risk. We can detect early (because it saves lives!). And we can support the young women who fight breast cancer. For that fight in particular, we love Young Survival Coalition, a national organization aimed at helping young women in the fight against breast cancer.

In their words:

YSC helps young women stand strong against the many unique challenges our population faces. Unlike post-menopausal women with breast cancer, we must deal with higher mortality rates, fertility issues and the possibility and ramifications of early menopause.

In YSC’s network of young women, however, those challenges can look more like opportunities to accomplish shared goals. YSC works with its members to:

• Advocate for more studies about young women and breast cancer;

• Educate young women about the importance of breast self-awareness and knowledge; and

• Serve as a community of support for young women with breast cancer.

Through it all, YSC helps women find meaning, comfort and hope during one of the most challenging experiences of their lives.

As medical professionals and fans of women’s health, we encourage young women – starting at the age of 20 – to remember to get their clinical breast exams (CBEs) annually and perform self-exams monthly. Know your risk.

Please do what you can for your own health – and know that Young Survival Coalition is doing everything they can as well. Together, let’s make this a win for women of all ages.

Originally published 8/15/15 on mammographykc.com.