Can Teenage Girls Get Breast Cancer?

Yes, although it is rare during adolescence. On the other hand, breast lumps are common at this time of life. This apparent contradiction is explained by the fact that teenagers often get cysts or tumors in their breasts that are not cancerous which result from sensitivity to estrogen. Most of the time, these lumps will disappear on their own, but it is always a good idea to have them checked by a doctor. When a lump is found, doctors will usually wait up to three menstrual cycles before taking any action, as they most likely will disappear. Mammograms, which are x-rays of the breasts, are not generally helpful in teenagers. Teenagers often learn breast self-examination techniques when they visit the gynecologist so this will become a health habit by the time they reach their fifties when their chance of breast cancer increases. Use of birth control pills does not increase the risk of breast cancer during adolescence and, in fact, has been shown to lower the risk of developing ...  more