About the Campaign
Breast Cancer in Young Women
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. About 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer during her life. Although most breast cancers are diagnosed in older women, in rare cases breast cancer does affect women under the age of 45. About 9% of all breast cancer cases in the United States are found in women younger than 45 years of age. Breast cancer in young women is more likely to be hereditary than breast cancer in older women and more likely to be found at a later stage, when it is often more aggressive and difficult to treat. Many young women do not know their risk for breast cancer or ways to manage their risk.
Real Women, Real Stories
CDC launched Bring Your Brave in 2015 to provide information about breast cancer to women younger than age 45. The campaign tells real stories about young women whose lives have been affected by breast cancer. These stories about prevention, risk, family history and survivorship bring to life the idea that young women can be personally affected by breast cancer. Through these testimonials, Bring Your Brave aims to inspire young women to learn their risk for breast cancer, talk with their health care provider about their risk, and live a breast healthy lifestyle.
Target Audiences
The campaign’s target audience is women ages 18 to 44, particularly those whose family history and backgrounds predispose them to a higher risk for breast cancer at a young age. This includes women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer and Ashkenazi Jewish women. The campaign encourages women of average risk to live a breast healthy lifestyle. Additionally, the campaign works to educate health care providers about the risk factors for early onset breast cancer and ways that their young women patients can manage their risks.
Objectives
- Encourage young women to learn their family history of breast and ovarian cancer.
- Educate young women on the risk factors for breast cancer before the age of 45.
- Inspire young women to talk to their health care provider if they think they may be at a higher risk for breast cancer.
- Encourage young women to live a healthy lifestyle and be aware of their own breast health.
- Educate providers on the risk factors for breast cancer before the age of 45.