Breast cancer has been the most common type of cancer for Taiwanese women for years, and now, doctors are seeing an increasing trend of younger women suffering from this deadly disease.

The Bureau of Health Promotion urges women of all ages to pay attention to their bodies, and those who are between the age of 45 to 49 are highly recommended to take regular breast cancer screening.

A 17-year-old female student in Hualien was diagnosed of breast cancer.

Although she did notice a lump in her breast, she thought it was from being hit during exercise and ignored it.

To her surprise, she was diagnosed with third stage breast cancer and cancer cells have transferred to other part of her body.

Now she is having chemotherapy to get the illness under control.

The cancer data of Bureau of Health Promotion shows that breast cancer is the most common cancer in Taiwanese women.

Each year, about 7,500 women come down with the illness.

Last year 500,000 women attended screenings and the results show that as many as 1,600 people were diagnosed to have breast cancer.

66% of the women are between the age of 45 to 49.

In other words, women of the age group are at high risks.

According to the clinical statistic by Changgung Hospital, the average size of breast cancer lump found in Taiwanese womeoon is around 2.7 centimeters.

The figure in the U.S. and European countries is 1.5 centimeters in the average.

The fact shows that Taiwanese are not taking an active approach at breast cancer screening.

Therefore, Department of Health urges women with a family history of breast cancer and a habit of consuming fast foods to have Mammography and Breast Sonography as the five year survival rate for stage 0 to 2 patients exceeds 90%.