Breast cancer is one of the rapidly growing and deadly cancers worldwide, and even young women are now falling victim to it. In 2022 alone, more than 670,000 women died due to breast cancer. This problem is also rapidly increasing in the Indian population, prompting health experts to alert all women about it.

According to recent reports, former Miss Universe Puerto Rico contestant Jaylene Alvarez has also been diagnosed with breast cancer. The 33-year-old Jaylene recently shared information about her illness in a social media post. In the post, written in Spanish, she further said, "It's like facing death. It's also a time that tests your mental strength."

The case of cancer at the age of 33 has raised many questions. How is this deadly disease spreading at such a young age, and what should be done for its timely detection?

Lump in the breast: The first sign

Jaylene says, "Initially, I didn't pay much attention to the symptoms. After some time, when I felt a lump in my breast and noticed it was growing, I went for a check-up." Despite a family history of the disease, Jaylene admitted that she was completely shocked when the doctors confirmed the diagnosis. She said, "I am now a breast cancer patient, which is common in women. But getting this disease at such a young age was surprising to me."

During the examination, it was found that her cancer had not spread to other parts of the body. She is now undergoing chemotherapy to destroy the cancer cells and prevent it from spreading.

Breast cancer cases among Indian celebrities

Several Indian celebrities have also been diagnosed with breast cancer in recent years.

Ayushmann Khurrana's wife and filmmaker Tahira Kashyap has battled breast cancer twice. Tahira was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, after which she had to undergo a mastectomy. She was diagnosed with the disease again in April 2025.
Similarly, renowned actress Aruna Irani has also been affected by breast cancer twice. She was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why is this disease increasing among younger people?

Until a few decades ago, this disease was considered to be associated with aging. However, now cases are increasing among women aged 20-40 years.

Women with a family history of breast cancer are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer at a younger age due to gene mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2.
Health experts also consider changing lifestyles to be a major cause of this disease.
Obesity at a young age, lack of physical activity, and excessive consumption of junk food create hormonal imbalances, which can increase the risk of breast cancer.
In addition, staying up late, lack of sleep, and constant stress affect hormones like cortisol and estrogen in the body, which can play a role in the development of cancer cells.

How to prevent breast cancer at a young age?

Health experts say that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is most important to prevent breast cancer. Regular exercise, improving diet, and reducing stress help maintain balanced estrogen levels in the body and strengthen immunity.

A balanced diet including green vegetables, fruits, fiber, and antioxidant-rich foods helps reduce the risk of cancer.
Avoiding junk food, high-sugar foods, and processed foods is essential for cancer prevention.
Alcohol and smoking also increase the risk of cancer, and these should be completely avoided.

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