By Lois Thomson
Breast cancer in women under 50 is a major public health concern, particularly because of the unique challenges younger women experience after active primary cancer treatment. For Tarsha Jones, R.N., Ph.D., PHNA-BC, those challenges have driven decades of breast cancer research. An associate professor at Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Jones is working to better understand young survivors’ experiences and turn those insights into support.
According to the American Cancer Society’s 2026 data, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women under 50 in the United States. Although 60 percent of diagnoses occur in women 60 or older, an increasing proportion occur in younger women, with 16 percent diagnosed before age 50.
As a National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute K01 awardee, Jones conducted a cross-sectional survey of breast cancer survivors diagnosed before age 50 and recruited from NCI-designated cancer centers.
Participants’ mean age at diagnosis was 39.8 years, with a standard deviation of 6.8 years, and nearly 56 percent reported a family history of breast cancer. Most participants – 92.71 percent – reported completing germline genetic testing, which uses blood or saliva samples to identify genetic changes that may increase cancer risk. Among those tested, 76.1 percent reported a negative result.
“This result was surprising,” Jones said. “Although genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome is critical for younger women diagnosed with breast cancer, cancer risk is multifactorial and involves genetic, environmental, and lifestyle interactions.”
Her research also includes developing and testing behavioral interventions to help young survivors adopt evidence-based lifestyle and risk-reduction behaviors after cancer treatment.
While breast cancer can be traumatic at any age, Jones said younger women face distinct challenges. These include fertility concerns, raising young children, parenting stress, financial strain, career disruptions, body image concerns, and the effects of treatment.
Long-term endocrine therapy during their reproductive years, premature menopause, fear of recurrence, and mental health concerns can further complicate life after diagnosis.
“My research focuses on human experiences of cancer and the unique needs of this population; this is Caring Science in action,” Jones said. “Amplifying the voices of young breast cancer survivors has been central to my work.”
Participants described a need for connection and support as they navigated life after treatment. One woman emphasized the value of talking with others who understood her experience: “You need a place where you can group chat with other women who are diagnosed.” She added, “These discussions would help me to heal more.”
Another participant described the ongoing toll of medication and additional surgeries after completing chemotherapy, radiation, and a double mastectomy. “Mostly I just feel exhausted or overwhelmed from it all,” she said. “I am obviously still processing.”
In response to these findings, Jones developed MyBreastFriends, a nurse-led digital storytelling intervention grounded in Caring Science. It combines online education modules, personal stories from fellow survivors, and an RN advice line offering patient navigation and nursing support.
Jones’ interest in breast cancer research took shape early in her nursing career. “I wanted to make a larger impact on population-based outcomes, not just the care of individual patients,” she said.
That professional interest also had a personal connection: Two women in her family were diagnosed with breast cancer, including one who died from metastatic breast cancer. Those experiences inspired her to pursue a doctorate in nursing science focused on breast cancer research.
Jones also examines how chronic stress and psychosocial factors influence cancer risk and long-term survivorship, with the goal of turning research into practical risk-reduction strategies. “Information is power,” she said.
Jones became involved in breast cancer advocacy early in her career, joining Susan G. Komen’s Young Women’s National Advisory Council in 2007. “I was the only nurse serving on the advisory council; that early commitment to advocacy shaped my nursing career trajectory,” she said. “This service changed my life.”
Now her service is changing the lives of others.
Visit MyBreastFriends.net to learn more about the project.
