Breast cancer symptoms in under-50s being ‘routinely missed’ by health professionals, charity says

Breast cancer cases among women under the age of 50 have seen a 5 per cent increase in just one year, according to new analysis.

This concerning rise comes as the charity CoppaFeel! claims that younger individuals presenting with symptoms of the disease are "routinely dismissed" by healthcare professionals.

In response, the charity is advocating for the adoption of a seven-minute risk assessment.

This proposed tool would consider factors such as family history to identify those who might benefit from earlier or more frequent breast screening. Currently, the NHS offers women mammograms – an X-ray of the breast – from their 50th birthday until they turn 71.

According to its new report, 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, breast cancer rates increased by 5 per cent among 25 to 49 year olds.

The charity said patients diagnosed with breast cancer under 50 are almost twice as likely to have late-stage cancer compared with someone in their 60s, while under 25s are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with late-stage disease.

Sophie Dopierala-Bull, director of services and engagement, 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.

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Source: The Independent, 25 June 2026