Nancy Brinker United States Ambassador


A Call to Protect Next Generation


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very october, pink ribbons remind us of the progress we’ve made and the lives still at stake.


For me, Breast Cancer Awareness


Month is deeply personal. I think of my sister, Suzy, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in the 1970s and passed away at just 36 years old. In her fi nal days, I promised her I would do everything in my power to end breast cancer forever. That promise became the driving


force behind Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which has since invested billions into research, awareness, and community programs that have saved countless lives. Today, my work continues through


the Promise Fund, which focuses on eliminating barriers to early detection and quality care, especially for women in medically underserved communities. Our model gives every woman the opportunity to attain healthcare, regardless of where she lives or her level of income. To date, we have connected 70,000


women to screenings, diagnostics, and treatments they might otherwise never receive. But a troubling new reality


demands our urgent attention. According to a study from the American Cancer Society, breast cancer rates among women under 50 have been steadily rising for the past two decades, with a sharp acceleration after 2016. Among women ages 20 to 49,


incidence rose from 64 cases per 100,000 in 2000 to 74 per 100,000 in 2019, largely driven by estrogen- receptor positive tumors. These are often treatable when


26 NEWSMAX | OCTOBER 2025


caught early, but most women under 40 are not recommended for regular screening, leaving too many diagnosed later, at more dangerous stages. The trend is not just in research


journals, it’s playing out in real life in public view. Several young celebrities have announced breast cancer diagnoses in the past year, a reminder that this disease is not just for the “over-50” population. Pop singer Jessie J, 37, revealed


she has early-stage breast cancer and undergo surgery.


The rate of new breast cancer diagnoses in women under 50 rose 1.4% annually — double the rate of increase in women 50 and over.


Katie Thurston, former star of The Bachelorette, has documented her Stage 4 journey on social media since her diagnosis at 34. And Danielle Fishel, beloved for her


role on Boy Meets World, told fans last summer she was diagnosed at age 43. Their courage in sharing their stories underscores a sobering fact: From 2012 to 2021, the rate of new breast cancer diagnoses in women under 50 rose 1.4% annually — double the rate of increase in women 50 and over. Even more alarming, a Washington University study found Black women in their 20s face a 53% higher risk of breast cancer than white women the same age. While the disparity narrows


somewhat in women in their 30s, the early years are critical, and the consequences of a delayed diagnosis can be devastating. We know from history that when


our nation focuses its resources, awareness, and policy on a public health crisis, lives are saved. In 1990, the federal Breast and


Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act created nationwide screening programs for low-income and uninsured women. Over the decades, federal research


funding through the National Cancer Institute and the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program has led to better treatments and a steady decline in mortality rates. Public awareness campaigns have empowered millions to know their risk and seek screening. But now, as cancer increasingly


strikes younger women, our prevention and screening strategies must evolve. We need targeted research to understand why estrogen- receptor positive tumors are surging in younger women. We need to identify high-risk populations earlier and off er them tailored prevention plans. And we must ensure that every


woman — regardless of income, race, or ZIP code — can access the same lifesaving early detection tools. Breast cancer awareness is not


only about honoring those we’ve lost, it’s about protecting the generations ahead. The young women being diagnosed today cannot wait another decade for change. We owe it to them, and to the


promise I made to my sister, to meet this challenge with the same determination and innovation that have carried us this far.


Nancy Brinker, founder of The Promise Fund of Florida and Susan G. Komen, served as U.S. ambassador to Hungary.


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