Brittany Auclair was 29, back at work after welcoming her son Brayden, when she noticed a lump while pumping. It turned out to be triple negative breast cancer. She remembers the moment she heard the diagnosis and shut down, and the months of surgery and chemotherapy that followed. She completed treatment in October 2013, and she has now been cancer-free for more than 12 years.
Her experience echoes a pattern doctors across the country are watching closely. American Cancer Society data shows cancer is increasing in people under 65, with women now more likely than men to develop it. One study found 17 of 34 cancer types rising among Gen Xers and millennials compared with older generations. Dr. Amit Jain at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare says he has treated colorectal cancer patients as young as 29 who had no family history, no predisposition and no risk factors. Experts like Dr. Rhea Rogers point to obesity, environmental toxins and genetics as possible factors behind the trend.
So what does this mean for those of us on the Suncoast? Pay attention. If something feels off, a lump, unusual bleeding, a persistent cough, don’t wait because you assume cancer is an older person’s disease. Call your doctor, ask questions and know your family history. What health habit have you been putting off scheduling?
