Breast cancer rates are rising in young women. Here is what you can do to protect yourself.

October 7, 2026 / 7:00 AM EDT / CBS News

"Survivorship starts at the day of diagnosis," says Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky — and for hundreds of thousands of American women each year, it's their new reality.

According to the American Cancer Society, 321,910 women in the U.S. will be newly diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2026. Rates of breast cancer are increasing across the board but the fastest rise is among younger women under the age of 50.

Breast cancer is also one of the most common cancers in adolescents and adults under 39.

While the mortality rate is decreasing over time thanks to earlier detection and innovation in cancer treatment, the increased rate of diagnosis is still a cause for concern.

This week on "Healthful," Dr. Teplinsky joined me to discuss why this is happening. She also shares the steps we can take to best protect ourselves and how to support loved ones through their fight.

In Teplinsky's new book, "Beyond the Pink," she laments how some women are told "you're too young for cancer." But that's really not the case. Instances of breast cancer are rising 1.4% every year in women under 50. That's double the rate…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/