The EARLY Act: Right Message, Wrong Target

In my role as community moderator on this site, I team with my fellow expert patients to answer upwards of 300 reader questions a month. These questions range from the kind-of-ridiculous (“I keep my cell phone in my bra. Is that why my breast is vibrating?”) to the sublime (“What can I do to help my best friend who’s just been diagnosed with breast cancer?”).

By far, though, the largest proportion of questions ask the same thing in a whole lot of different ways:

“Do I have breast cancer?”

From lumps to rashes, dimples to oozing nipples, swelling in the underarm to “something that looks like a bug bite,” women are worried that they have breast cancer.

And it’s not just the women who are worried.

Sadly, there are plenty of girls who write in for help. And I mean little girls: some as young as 10 or 11 years old. They feel a lump; they think they have cancer. Here’s just a sampling of some of the questions we’ve answered lately:

I’m a 15 year old girl, do I have breast cancer? - Marisa

I am 14 years old and I have a small lump on one of my breasts. Is that normal or is it breast cancer? - SB

I’m 13 years old and I have a lump in my right breast. I’m scared it is breast cancer… Is it possible for me to have breast cancer? I’m too scared to tell anyone. And going to the doctors scares me because I have a male doctor. What should I do? - Michaela

I'm a 13 year old girl and I have a lump or tumor in my right nipple. I'm not sure if breast cancer runs in my family. My mom and sister don't have it. Help? – Alysha

I’m 12 years old and I think I have breast cancer. What should I do? - Charie

I want to reach out to these girls and give them a hug, and tell them “NO, you don’t have breast cancer. Now go back to worrying about boys and sports and your homework.”

Yes, I know it’s POSSIBLE to get breast cancer as a young girl; an 11-year-old in California was recently diagnosed. But the chances of a teenage (or younger) girl having breast cancer are statistically 0%. Basically, it's not going to happen.

I feel safe and responsible telling these kids that they don’t have breast cancer – while also encouraging them to bring their concerns to their parents, of course. And suggesting they read our Teen Guide to Breast Development.

Because what’s the alternative? Tell them yes, you could have breast cancer – you need to go to the doctor, get a mammogram, have a biopsy…?

I don’t think so.

My wish for these girls is that their 6th-grade health class would include a 15-minute segment on breast issues during puberty. While the boys go out and learn about wet dreams, the girls can learn about menstruation and, yes, their breasts.

I want the teacher to tell them that the huge media focus on breast cancer – pink October, Race for the Cure, et. al. – really isn’t directed at them. That they’ll see and feel their breasts change during puberty, but that they don’t have to worry about breast cancer – right now.