The Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is the only international, non-profit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to the concerns and issues that are unique to young women and breast cancer. Through action, advocacy, and awareness, the YSC seeks to educate the medical, research, breast cancer, and legislative communities and to persuade them to address breast cancer in women age 40 and under. The YSC also serves as a point of contact for young women living with breast cancer.

This year in the US over 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Of those, 11,500 will be under the age of 40. The diagnosis comes at a time when many young women are beginning careers, marriages, or families. Their cancers are often more aggressive and found at later stages of the disease, resulting in a potentially worse prognosis. Surrounded by a group of healthy peers, most of these young women feel isolated and alone, not realizing that there are other women in their communities just like them. Through the YSC's efforts, young women with breast cancer are learning every day that they are not alone. The YSC is working to change the face of breast cancer.

Locally, the Young Survival Coalition of Greater Baltimore is funded by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and partners with LifeBridge Health to provide services to younger women such as a monthly support group, educational speakers, and advocacy on a state and federal level. This year the YSC in MD is going into local colleges to provide breast health education to college aged women.

More information about the Young Survival Coalition can be found here.