RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA — October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and with it comes a concerning new trend researchers say they’re studying closely.

Doctors say more younger women are being diagnosed with late stage breast cancer.

At just 34 years old, Arianna Gavzy was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2018.

Despite no family history, she still had a genetic predisposition for the disease.

“I knew going into my diagnosis that I was a carrier for the BRCA gene, which means you’re more likely to have a more aggressive form of cancer and to get it earlier,” said Gavzy.

She endured chemotherapy, radiation and then a double mastectomy. 

“It was a very intense year,” said Gavzy. “My primary goal in this process is to never have cancer again.”

Doctors say breast cancer is the most common cancer among women 15 to 39. A new study in the journal “Radiology” found stage four cancer in women under 40 jumped 20% over a five year period.

Researchers are calling that “significant.”

“There’s a shift in the general population towards certain cancer types happening […]