Breast cancer is one of the most spread cancer among women. Lately, many breast cancer awareness programs have been launched worldwide. Still, most of us believe in myths. Anything and everything related to breast cancer whether the causes, symptoms, cure or procedure, is somehow connected to any of the widespread rumors.
Thus, today we've brought you almost all the myths and facts related to breast cancer. This is not just to increase your information about the disease also to warn you about the do's and don't's to decrease the risk.
Myth: If you already knew this, then we are glad but many ladies aren't aware of this fact here. Women usually get scared of breast cancer when they get hit on their breasts or any injury to their breast is enough to give them a nightmare. If you thought the same then this is for you as we understand this myth came up from nowhere.
Fact: The truth is that doctors have never said that any trauma or injury can lead to breast cancer or that it increases the risk. So care for yourself, don't get hurt and if you do, don't get scared.
Myth: Although, this has almost become a say over the years that larger breast increases the risk of breast cancer. Just take a breath of relief ladies! Your breast size doesn't relate you with cancer anyway.
Fact: The ground reality is that cancerous cell growths have nothing to do with the size of your mammary organ. So, small breasts or big, the possibilities are equal.
Fact: Breast cancer isn't the leading killer. Approximately, stroke causes more than 96,000 deaths, the chronic lower respiratory disease causes 67,000 deaths, while breast cancer kills around 40,000 women per year in the country.
Myth: Another myth people blindly believe is that breast cancer kills most number of women compared to any other cancer. Yes, breast cancer is the most spoken but not actually the most spread cancer.
Fact: The highest number of women deaths are caused by lung cancer, not breast cancer. This is a proven fact on the basis of several final stats that are the result of keen observations. Lately, the American Cancer Society has made this statement which mentions lung cancer being the biggest killer among women.
Myth: Only women suffer from breast cancer as they have breasts. We agree that men don't have breasts and so they aren't prone to breast cancer. That's not the reality though.
Fact: Men do have breast tissues and can get breast cancer. The only reason why men are less prone to this disease is that the breast tissues in mean are much less than that of women. Mostly, it occurs in 60s men but younger ages can also be affected.
In 2015, around 2,350 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 440 breast cancer deaths are expected among men in the U.S. Approx 62,000 women and 390 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year.
Myth: While many websites, sharing information about breast cancer mentions wearing a bra could be one of the possible reasons. That's all wrong!
Fact: It's completely your choice if you like wearing a bra or not and again it has nothing to do with breast cancer. Doctors have never been certain about this nor there has been any proven relationship between wearing bra and cancer.
Fact: Originally, all the women have chances of breast cancer. Yes, young women rarely get diagnosed for cancer. There have been cases where young girls had breast cancer. Out of all the people diagnosed, less than 5% of women diagnosed are under the age of 40 across the U.S.
Myth: Eat right, don’t smoke, exercise, stay fit, and don’t drink alcohol is the cure for breast cancer.
Fact: There's no reason what human nature or habits cause breast cancer. Even if you eat well to stay fit never smoke or drink either, you might have cancer. Doctors have said that regular exercise and healthy eating reduces the risk but doesn't end the risk. Thus, there's no cure.
Fact: Neither cancer is connected to soreness nor there's any relation between cancer and caffeine, in fact, some doctors say that a medium consumption of caffeine could possibly lower down the risk of breast cancer.
Myth: Breast cancer mostly occurs in ladies when they are in their 30s.
Fact: Breast cancer does not attack the mid ages rather the risk increases with the growing age. More than half of the breast cancer patients are diagnosed after menopause.
Myth: Felt a lump in your breasts? Enough to give you goosebumps isn't it? You don't have to worry about that much though.
Fact: Our breasts are lumpy and just for the info, more than 80% of these lumps aren't harmful. At times, a lump can also be because one's periods' date is close, again, that isn't proven.
Fact: Lumps are not a warning as there are 7 other main warning signs for breast cancer. Out of the overall 8 symptoms, 6 are visual, ie, cannot be identified.
Myth: The risk of breast cancer rises up after one undergoes a fertility treatment as estrogen is said to cause breast cancer
Fact: As there hasn't been a large level of research yet, there is no definite answer to this. Fertility tests are still under suspicion.
Myth: Many times, people worry about warming or freezing food and drinks in plastic containers or bottles as it releases a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) which can cause cancer cells if connected with our hormones.
Fact: Researchers agree that plastic bottles are exposed to extremely high temperatures, which can release BPA in water. However, the amount of mixture is not said to be harmful for human consumption.
Fact: Women with implants need to inform before their breast screening process about it. As the radiographer might not be able to check on the breast tissues do not increase your risk of breast cancer. They might require additional X-ray images.
There's a connection between implants and hormonal change which is not yet said to be the reason for breast cancer.
Myth: Abortion raises your risk of getting breast cancer is a belief going on since breast cancer became known to us.
Fact: Abortion is said to disrupt hormone cycles and breast cancer is linked to hormone levels. Studies have stated a causal link but no conclusive evidence is there to say that breast cancer is linked with abortion.
Fact: Breast cancer is most diagnosed cancer in pregnant and postpartum women. There's a valid reason behind it. During pregnancy or breastfeeding, women's breasts become more tender and grow, due to which it is difficult to find a lump or other changes.
Fact: A study was conducted in 2003 to explain the relation of a high number of cancer patients in Long Island, N.Y. living near the power lines. Previously, the same research was conducted in Seattle and there was no connection again.
Fact: Deodorants bring our skin in contact with aluminum and can build up toxin. On the basis of studies, it is said that deodorants can enter our skin and affect our breast cells. Again, nothing is concluding that it causes breast cancer.
Myth: A cell phone in your bra will increase the risk of breast cancer.
Fact: Researchers haven't found any connection between cell phones with any types of cancer. If you are still concerned, you can use the bra that has a pocket section on the backside. Women should use deodorant without aluminum as it works as a block during mammogram making it hard to identify any lumps.
Fact: Hair removing creams are not connected with breast cancer either. No such studies have been done on this. As people are not too much into this believe anyway.
Myth: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or Oral contraceptives lead to breast cancer.
Fact: Let's just be honest that previously when the contraceptives' were high-dose. The risk of cancer among women was much more than today as the pills are now comparatively very fewer doses.
Myth: The radiations lead to cancer.
Fact: Radiation from cell phones, magnetic towers, and Mammography scanning doesn't really harm us as it is not proven. One should use minimum doses of radiation with a low risk of triggering cancer.
Fact: In 2007, a study initiated by the National Cancer Institute concluded that the use of hair straighteners or relaxers doesn't increase the risk of breast cancer. In this study, women who are using hair straightener from more than two decades and around seven times a day were also included.
Myth: Only a yearly medical check-up will help in diagnosing breast cancer.
Fact: Breast self-exams (BSEs) are the most relevant indication that something might be wrong. In case of any doubts, one should visit a doctor right away instead of waiting for the next regular appointment.
Fact: Mammograms aren't a cure for breast cancer. Although their role is to detect cancer cells or lumps if any. If the mammogram is done on yearly basis, it can save many lives.
Myth: Women usually believe that breast cancer symptoms can be easily identified.
Fact: As we informed you before that every lump doesn't mean breast cancer. One can only be certain after breast imaging (mammography) results are available. We can just be doubtful or concerned but reports give the actual picture.
Myth: Annual mammograms includes so much radiation that it increases the risk of breast cancer. So should we stop our regular check-ups?
Fact: We did inform you before about radiation being involved in mammography, but as you know the amount is too small to cause any harm to humans. Mammograms help in distinguishing natural lumps and cancerous lumps and the earlier stage cancer is detected the better are the chances of survival.
The American Cancer Society suggests that once women touch the age 40, they should regularly receive a screening mammogram every one to two years.
Fact: Mammography helps in screening and diagnosis but it fails to detect around 10% to 20% of breast cancers. That's why people are always suggested to get add-on check-ups done. Self-examining and rest clinical breast tests may help when mammograms fail to detect cancer.
Myth: An advanced stage of breast cancer doesn't mean that removing a cancerous tumor is the first step.
Fact: If someone is diagnosed with cancer, he /she should always go for the second opinion about what should be the right procedure. Different breast cancers are to be treated differently.
Myth: Removing the entire breast means increased chances for survival compared to that of a lumpectomy with radiation therapy.
Fact: Survival rates for women who select the breast-conserving option to remove only part of the breast and undergo surgery with radiation treatments are the same. There are always exceptions.
Myth: Needle biopsies may increase the cancer cells resulting in the increase of cancer in other body parts.
Fact: A needle biopsy can help patients to understand if they require surgical procedures to remove lumps. However, a study was conducted in 2004, that showed an increased spread of cancer among patients who underwent the treatment compared to those who didn't follow the procedure.
We'll emphasize on the point that one should consult more than one doctor before starting any procedure.
Myth: Special anti-cancerous vegetables can prevent breast cancers.
Fact: Carotenoids are compounds that are found in some foods; which helps in fighting with free radical agents. Yes, as well told you before, eating a healthy diet decreases the risk but it isn't sure.
Myth: A cancerous tumor is removed by a surgery, doubles the effects of other tissues.
Fact: Surgeries don't spread breast cancer to other tissues. Even though there is no research done for this as it is a sure fact.
Myth: In the families where no one had breast cancer, the present or future generations won't have it either.
Fact: More than 90% of breast cancer patients don't have any family history of the disease.
Fact: Family history increases the risk of cancer. Although, most of the women diagnosed with breast cancer don't have any family history. Only 13% of women confirmed to have breast cancer have close relatives in the past diagnosed with the disease like mother, sister or daughter.
Myth: With advanced and new treatment breast cancer can be cured.
Fact: Breast cancer can be treated but not cured completely. When detected at an early stage, a person can live a healthy long life.
Fact: Usually people have a higher risk of breast cancer than they actually think. Being a woman is enough to increase the risk. Every 1 in 8 women in the U.S. has is about to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Myth: Your Senators and Members of Congress don't play any role in breast cancer researches.
Fact: We pay taxes and a good amount of money is spent on breast cancer research.
Myth: All the breast cancer researches being held across the globe are helping to improve the process and cure the disease.
Fact: All the research that is going on doesn't guarantee positive results.In the end, all we have to tell you is to stay aware and know your body! It's always great to get check-ups done and not to rely on internet source.