According to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, there has been a 2% annual increase in invasive breast cancer in U.S. women under 40 over the last three decades. A second study by the American Cancer Society shows that invasive breast tumors in women under 45 years old increased by 11.8% between 2007 and 2011 alone.

This is especially alarming because young women are less likely to perform regular self-exams or seek out mammograms, and because cancers diagnosed in younger women are often more aggressive and therefore more life-threatening.

Whether you are a woman over 40 who has a daughter, niece, grandchild or other young relative, or if you're a young woman yourself, you can make a difference in slowing down this disturbing statistical trend. Until there is a cure, prevention and awareness are our most powerful weapons.

Take the pledge today: Commit to raising awareness about these five proven ways every woman can lower her risk of being faced with a battle against breast cancer.