Portugal is among the European countries where breast cancer incidence has risen most sharply among younger women over the past two decades, according to new OECD and European Commission data.
Across the EU, the age-standardised incidence of breast cancer among women aged 15 to 49 increased by 16% between 2000 and 2022, rising from 53.3 to 62 cases per 100,000 women.
Portugal is listed alongside Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden as one of the countries where the increase was greatest.
The findings form part of the European Cancer Inequalities Registry 2026 report, which highlights a broader rise in cancers diagnosed before the age of 50, particularly among women.
Breast cancer, thyroid cancer, melanoma and colorectal cancer have been among the main drivers of that trend.
In Portugal, breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women. According to the latest Global Cancer Observatory estimates cited in a new awareness campaign launched this month, around 9,100 new breast cancer cases were diagnosed in Portugal in 2024, with approximately 2,100 deaths attributed to the disease.
Often diagnosed later in younger women
Doctors warn that breast cancer in younger women brings particular challenges.
Women below the usual screening age may be diagnosed at a later stage because they are not routinely included in population screening programmes and because symptoms can sometimes be dismissed on the assumption that breast cancer is primarily a disease of older women, experts explain.
Some biologically more aggressive forms of the disease, including triple-negative breast cancer, are also proportionally more common among younger patients.
“Breast cancer in young women is often a different disease: it appears at a stage of life when nobody expects such a diagnosis, tends to be more aggressive and is frequently detected later,” said oncologist Professor Luís Costa, a board member of the Breast Cancer in Young Women Foundation.
“Talking openly about this issue is essential so that no woman dismisses a warning sign simply because she considers herself too young.”
Beyond treatment itself, a diagnosis at a younger age can have consequences for fertility, family plans, careers, financial stability and emotional wellbeing.
Some cancer treatments can temporarily or permanently affect fertility, while treatment-induced early menopause can have physical, sexual and psychological effects.
The OECD also warns that growing numbers of cancer diagnoses among younger adults may have longer-term consequences for employment and productivity.
Screening now starts at 45
Portugal has already lowered the starting age of its population-based breast cancer screening programme.
Since 2025, screening has been aimed at women aged 45 to 74, compared with the narrower age range used previously. The Directorate-General for Health says the programme is intended to improve early detection and reduce breast cancer mortality.
For women below 45 who are not covered by routine population screening, specialists stress the importance of being aware of changes in the breast and discussing individual risk factors with a doctor.
Portugal has also introduced separate screening guidance for people carrying genetic variants associated with a high risk of breast cancer.
‘Every breast cancer is different’
The issue is being highlighted during Pink October by the fourth edition of the O Meu é Diferente do Teu – “Mine is Different from Yours” – campaign, promoted by pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo alongside Portuguese cancer organisations and medical societies.
This year’s campaign focuses particularly on breast cancer in younger women and on the fact that breast cancer is not a single disease, with different molecular subtypes requiring different approaches.
“Every tumour has its own characteristics,” said Gabriela Sousa, president of the Portuguese Society of Senology.
“As new diagnostic tools, biomarkers and treatments emerge, it is essential to integrate this innovation with the best scientific evidence and with rigour in clinical practice.”
She said improving health literacy is equally important so that patients understand their particular type of cancer and can take part in decisions about treatment.
Nuno Bonito, president of the Portuguese Society of Oncology, echoed the warning about the specificities of each cancer: “Every case of breast cancer is unique and requires a response tailored to each person’s needs.”
He added that fighting the disease begins well before treatment, through “prevention, health literacy and early diagnosis”, including screening and awareness of signs and symptoms, particularly among younger women.
“Throughout this journey, it is essential to ensure an integrated, person-centred approach that allows for shared decisions and care tailored to individual needs,” he said.
For the specialists involved in the campaign, the message for younger women is not to become alarmed, but not to assume age alone rules out breast cancer.
As Luís Costa put it: “Knowing your body, paying attention to changes and seeking medical assessment are steps that can make all the difference.”