Breast Cancer:
facts & myths
There are a lot of ideas out there about breast cancer, and most of them are incorrect. Here are some of the things people say about breast cancer that are just plain wrong:
Myth:
If I don’t have a family history of breast cancer, I don’t need to worry about it.
Fact:
All women are at risk from breast cancer, and the risk increases as you age no matter your family’s history of cancer.
Myth:
But if I live a healthy and active lifestyle, I don’t need to worry about breast cancer.
Fact:
Eating the right balance of foods and getting regular exercise are things that you should do for your general health and to decrease your overall chances of getting sick, but lifestyle choices don’t significantly lower your risk of developing breast cancer.
Myth:
I’ve heard that bras can cause breast cancer.
Fact:
Science has conclusively proven that there is absolutely no link between wearing a bra and developing breast cancer.
Myth:
I’ve also heard that underarm deodorant causes cancer.
Fact:
So far, there is no scientific evidence that underarm deodorant causes cancer.
Myth:
Carrying your phone in your bra causes breast cancer.
Fact:
There is no evidence that this is true. You may have seen people on TV saying that phones cause cancer, and while the connection between cancer and cellphones is still being studied, nothing in over 30 years of research in the field has turned up any link.
Myth:
People have said that eating too much sugar causes cancer.
Fact:
While you should always eat sugar in moderation for your overall health, there is no evidence that proves eating lots of sugar causes you to develop cancer.
Myth:
If I get a mammogram every second year, I’m guaranteed to catch the cancer in its early stage.
Fact:
Mammograms are the best tool for detecting breast cancer, but they miss roughly 20% of breast cancer cases. They are less reliable for younger women.
Myth:
I’m sure that breast cancer is always a lump you can feel.
Fact:
This is a common symptom of breast cancer, and you should perform regular self-examinations to check for abnormalities in your breast tissue, but it is not a substitute for mammograms. Lumps are often the result of many other things that are benign.
Myth:
People say that early-stage breast cancer never comes back.
Fact:
Many people believe that early-stage breast cancer — cancer that hasn’t moved beyond the breast and underarm lymph nodes — has no chance of coming back. Although most cases of early-stage breast cancer won’t recur, the risk never disappears completely.
Myth:
But I’m young, I know that breast cancer only happens to older women.
Fact:
Women can develop breast cancer at any age after puberty, but the risk increases as you age.
Myth:
If I do develop cancer and have had treatment, the cancer is gone forever.
Fact:
Unfortunately, undergoing radiation therapy or even surgery does not guarantee that the cancer will never return. This is true of all cancers, not just breast cancer.
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