As the incidence of breast cancer in young women rises, there also must be increased awareness of unique considerations for patients who are diagnosed with the disease at an earlier age. Researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates will explore this topic from multiple angles during sessions at the upcoming San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium^®, December 9-12 in San Antonio, Texas.

“If you are treating a 30-year-old woman with breast cancer versus a 60-year-old woman, there are many different considerations to address,” said SABCS® Program Director Kate Lathrop, MD, of the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio.

“At age 30, most patients are premenopausal, and treatment may induce early menopause,” Dr. Lathrop explained. “That transition carries significant toxicities and increases the risk for cardiovascular disease and bone loss, among other symptoms of early onset menopause. There are also important body image concerns, and for patients who wish to have children, fertility preservation and family planning become critical issues to navigate.”

Special Session 3: Breast Cancer in Young Women: Biology, Treatment, and Ethics will begin to examine these factors on Tuesday, December 9, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT, during a block of concurrent sessions that will open SABCS 2025. Presenters will discuss the epidemiology and biology of young-onset breast cancer, as well as management considerations and ethical issues related to the care of younger patients.

Immediately following the special session, from 12:45 to 2:15 p.m., Clinical Workshop 1: Risk Assessment and Management in Young Women will focus on new and emerging approaches that clinicians can apply to their care of younger patients, including novel imaging strategies.

Educational Session 7: Immune Microenvironment, on Wednesday, December 10, from 2:30 to 4:15 p.m., will include a presentation on the immune system’s role in early-onset breast cancer.

Then, on Thursday, December 11, from 2:30 to 4:15 p.m., Educational Session 14: Breast Cancer in Young Women – When, Why, and How? will go into further detail on the current understanding of the molecular epidemiology of breast cancer in young women, the genomic and immunologic characteristics of breast cancer in young women, and the molecular and immunological basis of breast cancer across the age continuum.

In addition to the topics in these sessions, other impacts of breast cancer in young women will be highlighted in panel discussions, poster presentations, and conversations throughout the four-day symposium.

“Treating younger patients with cancer is fundamentally different from treating older patients,” Dr. Lathrop said. “It is not only a matter of biology — such as differences in drug tolerance and side effect profiles — but also of socioeconomic circumstances. Older patients are more likely to have insurance coverage through government programs, whereas younger patients often face greater financial toxicities, particularly if they are unable to work and consequently lose their insurance.”

Explore the full SABCS 2025 program today, and reserve your spot soon for the world’s foremost conference on the experimental biology, etiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer. Early-bird registration discounts are available through Friday, September 26, and more information can be found at SABCS.org.

Session titles, times, and locations are subject to change. For the most up-to-date SABCS program information, please visit the Program page at SABCS.org.