A wake-up call for early detection :: WRAL.com

The latest data from the American Cancer Society shows women
are being diagnosed with breast cancer more often at younger ages.

The median age of breast cancer diagnosis in women is
considered 62, but rising incidence rates in younger women are raising alarm.

The 2025
Cancer Facts and Figures data by the ACS found women under 50 are now nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed
with cancer as men the same age, largely attributed to a rise in breast cancer
cases.

It’s an alarming statistic Alison Irvine of Apex never imagined she’d be part of.

The mother of two first discovered a small, pea-sized lump
at 37. By 41, it had grown to the size of a grape.

“It kind of scared the dickens out of me that something had
grown from a very small size to a very large size in a short period of time,” said
Irvine. “I went back, had all the diagnostics done and that’s when I was
confirmed to have had breast cancer.”

Irvine was an active mother at the time with no
family history on either side of breast cancer.

The mom described learning she had cancer as “incredibly
overwhelming” and “filled with emotional highs and lows.”

“Luckily I found out right when I was in the office,” Irvine
recalled of her diagnosis. “There was a conversation I had with the radiologist
at that point in time because for women under 40, you kind of have to make this
choice of whether you get diagnostically checked more extensively or whether
you go back for more frequent routine screenings.”

Irvine opted for more extensive testing, which led to a
treatment plan involving surgery in June 2024.

“After surgery they found a small, micro metastasis in my lymph
node,” added Irvine. “Obviously given my age, with my oncologist, we then
decided we needed to proceed forward with chemotherapy. I went through four
rounds of chemotherapy, then after that I went through six weeks of radiation.”

Irvine is now considered in remission. She tells WRAL she
feels fortunate her treatments went according to plan and hopes her case can
serve as a reminder to other women to pay close attention to even the smallest
bodily changes.

“One of the best ways we can decrease mortality rates,
specifically within breast cancer, is through early detection. Access to care
is a huge part of this conversation as well,” Irvine said.

Irvine is now a part of the growing number of women sharing
their story as advocates with the American Cancer Society.

Other recent diagnoses, including
that of actress Olivia Munn at 43 years old, are also calling attention to
a push for earlier mammograms.

“Maybe 40 isn’t the right age as we’re seeing more women
under the age of 40 be diagnosed with this disease. More importantly is just
access. How do we get access to more populations throughout this area?” shared
Irvine.

Women under 40 are nearly 40% more likely to die from breast
cancer than those over 40, according to the Breast Cancer
Research Foundation. The cancer accounts for the most cancer deaths in U.S.
women ages 20-49.

Recent data continues to highlight racial disparities in
both cancer incidence rates and mortality.

The 5-year survival rate for breast cancer in the U.S. is
99% when found early, according to BCRF, but factors like race play a large
role.

Black women are 40%
more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. Black women are also twice
as likely diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer than white women, which
is more common among younger women and harder to treat.

New data from the ACS shows breast cancer incidence rates
are also climbing among Hispanic women. Breast cancer now accounts for 15% of
the demographic’s cancer deaths.

The following signs could be early indicators of breast
cancer and should be addressed by a healthcare provider immediately: