Breast Cancer in Children Topic Guide

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are gene mutations that can show whether a woman is at risk of developing breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in women. Symptoms and signs of breast cancer include breast lumps, nipple discharge or inversion, or changes in the breast's skin. Treatment typically involves some type of surgery and depends upon the staging of the cancer, the tumor type, and the person's health.

Breast cancer diagnosis includes screening methods, such as mammograms, clinical breast exams, MRIs, and breast self-exams, tissue biopsy, and specialized testing to look for tumor markers.

When you catch it early, breast cancer can be treated effectively in many cases. Depending on the stage of the cancer, the five-year survival rate can range from 100 percent to 22 percent if the cancer is detected at stage IV.

Breast cancer is staged 0 through IV, with IV being the most severe. Treatment is based on the individual woman and how her cancer responds. Therapies include chemotherapy, radiation, hormonal therapy and surgery.

Children can get breast cancer, though it is rare. Children and teens who develop breast cancer usually have hereditary markers, have some other cancer that has metastasized to the breast tissue or have a history of prior cancer treatment with radiation.

Financial toxicity, also referred to as financial distress, describes problems that people with cancer have in regard to the cost of their cancer treatment. People with cancer have more financial distress than those without cancer. Various things and risk factors for financial toxicity include the type, severity, and treatment received; age; low income; and type of health insurance. The effects of financial distress has on cancer patients include living a lower quality of life; not taking medications as prescribed to save money; and being in debt or having to file for bankruptcy. Financial distress or toxicity can be reduced with use of a financial navigator, knowing hospital and treatment prices, and reforming health insurance to improve financial toxicity of people with cancer.

Immunotherapy may be a type of treatment that could be integrated into an overall treatment plan to help eradicate certain cancers, especially in children. Cancer treatments for children usually involve chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy that may be extremely toxic and do not provide cures. Immunotherapeutic targeting treatments for cancer may be used along with conventional therapies or on their own.