Young Breast Cancer Incidence Rises; Civic Group Urges Women Under 40 to Screen
Breast cancer incidence among young Taiwanese women has risen over the past decade. A patient association urges women not to wait until the public screening age of 40, but to arrange personalized health checkups early to mitigate life-altering risks.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 16, 2026 at 14:26
- 🔍 Collected: April 16, 2026 at 14:31 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 03:39 (61h 7m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA reporter Shen Pei-tzu, Taipei, 16th) Breast cancer is the number one health killer for women. Many underestimate it, believing they are "still young," but the incidence rate among young women has steadily risen over the past decade, increasing from 16.9 to 24.7 diagnoses per 100,000 people. Civic groups urge that those under 40 should also undergo regular screenings.
Breast cancer has long been the most common cancer among women in Taiwan. Currently, publicly funded breast cancer screening is available to women aged 40 to 74. The Taiwan Breast Cancer Alliance issued a press release today reminding that some women under 40 mistakenly believe they are at a lower risk and neglect the importance of regular checkups.
According to cancer registry data, the incidence of breast cancer in young women has continued to rise over the past 10 years, increasing from 16.9 cases per 100,000 people in 2012 to 24.7 cases per 100,000 people in 2022. Huang Shu-fang, chairperson of the Taiwan Breast Cancer Alliance, pointed out that this shows young women suffering from breast cancer has become an important health issue that cannot be ignored.
Huang Shu-fang stated that young women have denser breast tissue, making imaging interpretation relatively difficult. It has often progressed to later stages upon discovery, affecting treatment efficacy and survival rates. Besides medical risks, young women at this stage are usually at a critical period of career development and also face the pressure of family planning. Once diagnosed with breast cancer, life faces multiple challenges.
Huang mentioned encountering several patients in their 30s. One learned of her breast cancer diagnosis right on her 30th birthday, precisely when she was working hard on her career and discussing marriage with her boyfriend, but having cancer completely disrupted her life plans.
The Taiwan Breast Cancer Alliance calls on young women to establish breast cancer prevention awareness early and not treat "40 years old" as the starting point for screening. Even on a limited budget, one can choose different screening methods based on personal conditions. They suggest having professional doctors evaluate and create a personalized screening plan, cultivating the habit of regular check-ups to effectively reduce the threat of breast cancer and extend the beauty and choices of life. (Editor: Lee Hsi-chang) 1150416
(CNA reporter Shen Pei-tzu, Taipei, 16th) Breast cancer is the number one health killer for women. Many underestimate it, believing they are "still young," but the incidence rate among young women has steadily risen over the past decade, increasing from 16.9 to 24.7 diagnoses per 100,000 people. Civic groups urge that those under 40 should also undergo regular screenings.
Breast cancer has long been the most common cancer among women in Taiwan. Currently, publicly funded breast cancer screening is available to women aged 40 to 74. The Taiwan Breast Cancer Alliance issued a press release today reminding that some women under 40 mistakenly believe they are at a lower risk and neglect the importance of regular checkups.
According to cancer registry data, the incidence of breast cancer in young women has continued to rise over the past 10 years, increasing from 16.9 cases per 100,000 people in 2012 to 24.7 cases per 100,000 people in 2022. Huang Shu-fang, chairperson of the Taiwan Breast Cancer Alliance, pointed out that this shows young women suffering from breast cancer has become an important health issue that cannot be ignored.
Huang Shu-fang stated that young women have denser breast tissue, making imaging interpretation relatively difficult. It has often progressed to later stages upon discovery, affecting treatment efficacy and survival rates. Besides medical risks, young women at this stage are usually at a critical period of career development and also face the pressure of family planning. Once diagnosed with breast cancer, life faces multiple challenges.
Huang mentioned encountering several patients in their 30s. One learned of her breast cancer diagnosis right on her 30th birthday, precisely when she was working hard on her career and discussing marriage with her boyfriend, but having cancer completely disrupted her life plans.
The Taiwan Breast Cancer Alliance calls on young women to establish breast cancer prevention awareness early and not treat "40 years old" as the starting point for screening. Even on a limited budget, one can choose different screening methods based on personal conditions. They suggest having professional doctors evaluate and create a personalized screening plan, cultivating the habit of regular check-ups to effectively reduce the threat of breast cancer and extend the beauty and choices of life. (Editor: Lee Hsi-chang) 1150416