Breast cancer is rare in females younger than 30 years. In a retrospective study of 25 women the effects of the early age on diagnosis, treatment and prognosis were investigated. In 21 women there was a clinical or radiological suspicion of carcinoma. Nevertheless, a delay in diagnosis was found in 9 of the 21 patients. In 16 patients stage I tumour was found, in 7 stage II, in I stage III and in I stage IV. After an average follow-up period of 68 months, 20 patients had no tumour recurrence. Tumour stage, treatment and prognosis were comparable with the characteristics reported for other age groups.