Early Onset Breast Cancer: What Makes It Different?

Why is breast cancer on the rise in younger women, and how do its diagnosis and treatment differ from measures taken for older women? This episode provides a 360-degree view of early onset breast cancer, blending deep clinical expertise with a moving personal story.In this episode, Mark Pearlman, MD, FACOG, sits down for an intimate and personal discussion of early onset breast cancer with his daughter, Allison Mertzman, a survivor of early onset breast cancer, and Erin Cobain, MD, a medical oncologist. Listen as they shed light on what makes this diagnosis distinct, including improving awareness and screening and navigating treatment and survivorship care. This is an essential conversation for clinicians, advocates, and patients, offering critical insights for physicians supporting younger patients and anyone affected by breast cancer.BiosErin Cobain, MDDr. Cobain is an associate professor of internal medicine in the division of hematology/oncology at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, where she serves as cochair of the breast cancer clinical research team. Her research focuses on identifying those at high risk of developing breast cancer and personalizing therapy for those with a breast cancer diagnosis through tumor molecular and genomic profiling. Dr. Cobain is very active within the SWOG breast cancer committee, currently serving as study chair of an NCTN clinical trial exploring use of combination chemo-immunotherapy for patients with high-risk, hormone receptor positive, HER2-negative early-stage breast cancer. She is also very active within American Society of Clinical Oncology, serving on the TAPUR molecular tumor board; annual meeting Education Committee for Prevention, Risk Reduction and Hereditary Cancers; and the Government Relations Committee. She is a recent graduate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Leadership Development Program.Allison MertzmanAllison Mertzman is a content creator and health care advocate who shares her breast cancer journey to educate, empower, and support others navigating similar challenges. A wife and mom of two, Mertzman blends personal experience with compassionate advocacy, inspiring a growing community through vulnerability and strength. Follow her work on TikTok and Instagram.Mark Pearlman, MD, FACOGDr. Pearlman has practiced at the University of Michigan Health System since 1990. He founded the Center for Cancer Genetics and Breast Health in 1996, a practice that focuses on patients at high risk for breast, ovarian and other gynecologic cancer and on breast cancer survivors. He is also the founding director of the Cancer Genetics and Breast Health fellowship at the University of Michigan, with graduates of this program are practicing in their own Center for Cancer Genetics and Breast Health programs across the United States. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Pearlman is also an active researcher: he has authored more than 140 peer review articles, chapters, and textbooks in obstetrics and gynecology and received over $5 million dollars in funding and is an editorial board member or a peer reviewer for more than two dozen journals. He also has been involved in writing national guidelines for breast cancer screening in both average and high-risk patients for many years, including authoring ACOG and National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines.For more information, visit https://www.acog.org/womenscancerpod.