Cases of breast cancer in women under 50 have increased by 5% in one year, according to new analysis by the charity CoppaFeel!. The organisation is now calling for a seven-minute risk assessment to be piloted, aiming to identify younger women who may need earlier or more frequent screening.
Rising Rates in Younger Women
CoppaFeel!'s report reveals that one in six people diagnosed with breast cancer are aged 49 and under. Diagnoses in people under 30 jumped by 78% from 2001 to 2019, and from 2022 to 2023, rates increased by 5% among 25- to 49-year-olds. The charity warns that patients diagnosed under 50 are almost twice as likely to have late-stage cancer compared to those in their 60s, while under-25s are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with late-stage disease.
Call for Risk-Based Screening
Currently, the NHS invites women for mammograms from age 50 to 71. CoppaFeel! argues that this age-based approach misses younger women at higher risk. The charity proposes a seven-minute risk assessment that considers family history, genetic factors, and breast density. This would help identify those who might benefit from earlier screening.
Sophie Dopierala-Bull, director of services and engagement at CoppaFeel!, said: “Early diagnosis depends too heavily on whether young people know their bodies, whether they feel confident seeking help, whether they can access healthcare, and whether they are taken seriously when they get there. Awareness matters – CoppaFeel! has spent more than 15 years helping young people know their bodies and feel confident seeking help. But awareness alone cannot carry the weight of a system that was not built with young people in mind.”
Recommendations and Personal Stories
CoppaFeel! also recommends that breast awareness be built into routine NHS appointments and that clinical breast cancer trials should include at least one in six patients under 50. Ms Dopierala-Bull added: “We need screening based on risk, research that includes younger people, and a healthcare system that treats young people’s breast cancer as the urgent issue it is.”
Erin Kennedy, Paralympic gold medallist and CoppaFeel! ambassador, shared her experience: “I was at the peak of my sporting career when I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at 29. Breast cancer was not something I thought would become part of my story. I was lucky that I knew my body and acted when something felt wrong. But no young person’s outcome should depend on luck, or on whether someone believes they are old enough to have breast cancer.”
GP Support
Dr Elizabeth Lynch, a GP and member of CoppaFeel!'s medical advisory group, said a conversation lasting minutes could help younger people understand what is normal and when to seek help. She said: “Although the prevalence of breast cancer in younger people is low, there are identifiable risk factors that may highlight those that need additional support, and a brief chat would ensure this cohort was identified by their healthcare professional, their worries and concerns addressed, and tailored, appropriate and timely intervention offered.”
Government Response
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “It is unacceptable that people have faced delays in receiving cancer diagnosis and care, and our thoughts are with all those who have been let down. We are determined to help people of all ages and backgrounds get faster diagnoses, quicker treatment, and the support they need to live well for longer. Through our National Cancer Plan, all patients will receive a personalised plan from 2026, covering treatment, mental health, employment, and financial support. We are also removing age-based barriers to clinical trials, ensuring young adults can access the most innovative treatments available.”
