Study Shows Breast Cancer Is More Deadly Among Young Moms

Breast cancer in young women is more likely to be fatal if it occurs after childbirth, according to a new study.

Researchers have discovered that bad changes brought on by the birth of a child facilitate the spread of cancer cells.

Dr. Virginia Borges, oncologist and head of study at the University of Colorado, said, "If a woman has bad cancer before age 45, she is much more aggressive and more likely to kill if she had children. "

The study followed 701 American women diagnosed between 1980 and 2014 and before their 45th birthday.

Among women diagnosed at the early stages of cancer, those who gave birth less than 10 years before diagnosis were up to five times more likely to see cancer spread than nonmothers.

Borges discovered that procreation triggers bad changes that cause cancer cells to "behave much more aggressively, increasing their ability to invade surrounding bad tissue and spread."

She pointed out that her findings did not mean that becoming a mother increased the risk of bad cancer.

But she said that maternity was "an easily identifiable risk factor" for the aggressiveness of bad cancer, something that women and doctors should be aware of.