October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Women in their 20s and 30s are taking to social media to share their breast cancer diagnoses and raise awareness of breast cancer in women under 40.
“They’re just starting their careers. They’re starting their families,” said Dr. Margaret Thompson, a doctor in breast services at Cleveland Clinic Florida. “They have their whole life ahead of them.”
The American Cancer Society recommends that women ages 50 to 54 should have annual mammography exams and women over 55 should be screened every two years or once a year.
Since it may be more difficult to diagnose breast cancer for women younger than 40, two young women told “Good Morning America” that discovering their cancer could have meant the difference between life and death.
Entrepreneur Diamonique Valentine was 27 when she first shared her diagnosis on Instagram. Since her diagnosis, she’s posted her breast cancer journey to thousands of viewers. Valentine said she never thought that having cancer was something that could happen to her.
Source: Young women take to social media to share breast cancer diagnoses, raise awareness