In The News: Breast Cancer's Continued Toll on Young Survivors

While amazing technologies and innovation has helped women have a higher survival rate when battling breast cancer, a recent ABC News profile highlights an unfortunate side effect--young women experiencing major quality of life challenges.

Undoubtedly, these women would likely choose the risk of psychological stress, weight gain, drops in physical activity and even reproductive issues over a certain death. But as ABC News points to a new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, this pushes many young survivors into lower quality of life with mental and health problems.


Low self-esteem and body image are why breast cancer survivor Yolanda Woodlee (a featured speaker at The Pink Event) encourages other survivors to get reconstructive surgery if they can. "There is never a moment when I don't remember I had breast cancer, but I don't have to look at my body and be reminded of that," she says.

The article notes breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in women, and is the leading cause of death in women younger than 50 in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society.

That's why the Pink Event has devoted part of its ticket sales to the Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® as well as the House of Ruth Maryland. See all of the details for the women’s expo (March 3, 2012) at www.thepinkevent.net.