Breast Cancer Myths

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Despite the work of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many company campaigns such as Avon and Weight Watchers, and the tremendous work of Dr. Susan Love, women still believe the myths about breast cancer. Believing these can cost you your life in some instances. Please read this list carefully and take charge of your breast health.

The Most Common Myths About Breast Cancer

MYTH: Only women with a family history get breast cancer.
TRUTH: The majority of women who get breast cancer 90% have no family history and 70% of women have none of the identifiable risk factors.
If you do have a family history, your chances are increased. You should get screening mammograms earlier than other women. You also may want to ask your doctor to test you for the BRAC1, BRAC2, AND P53 genes and changes (mutations) in these genes, if you do have them. These genes are responsible for over 90% of the inherited cancer. If you have inherited these genes, your chances are increased to 85-90% that you will get this disease by the age of 60. If you do not have these genes, your risk is only slightly higher than for all women.

MYTH: Not smoking, drinking alcohol, using caffeine or eating a high fat diet makes your chances of getting breast cancer almost zero.
TRUTH: Caffeine is NOT a risk factor. While none of these have proven to be completely helpful, you have improved your overall health. You can't prevent breast cancer, up to 70% of women with breast cancer have NO identifiable risk factors.

MYTH: Only women in their fifties get breast cancer.
TRUTH: While it is true that the majority, up to 78%, of the disease is found in this age group, there is still a significant number of cases found in women under the age of thirty. In fact, most cancer found in younger women is more advanced. This may be the result of delay in diagnosis because they have not been part of a regular screening process such as breast self-exam. REMEMBER: YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST MONITOR OF YOUR BREAST HEALTH.

MYTH: If you have lumpy breasts, you are more likely to get breast cancer in the future.
TRUTH: We noe know that this isn't true. Having lumpy or fibrocystic breasts DOES NOT increase your chances of developing breast cancer. If you know your breasts through self-exam, the chances of detecting cancer are better than for women who do not follow a breast health program.

MYTH: An injury to the breast can cause breast cancer.
TRUTH: Sometimes trauma to the breast may result in detection of breast cancer, but this is not due to the injury. Rather it is because the breast is being examined and followed more closely than usual.

MYTH: Doing a breast self-exam in the shower is the best way to detect lumps.
TRUTH: While that is better than nothing, finding lumps and irregularities in breast tissue may be more difficult with wet, soapy fingers. The best way is while lying down, about a week after your period every month. You should be intimately aware of your body and your breast. Your doctor, sites on the internet, and magazines can all show you the correct way to do breast self exams.

MYTH: Breast cancer is preventable, especially if you know you have the BRACA1 breast cancer gene.
TRUTH: There is ABSOLUTELY NO KNOWN WAY TO PREVENT ALL BREAST CANCER AT THIS TIME. Nearly 85% of women with the breast cancer gene will develop the disease during their lifetime. Even removing the breasts in these women will not prevent it because some breast tissue remains.

MYTH: Only women get breast cancer.
TRUTH: Men DO get breast cancer, although it is rare. If you notice a lump that does not go away in your partner's breast tissue, make sure he sees a doctor.

MYTH: Small breasted women do not get breast cancer.
TRUTH: WRONG!!! Every woman is at risk regardless of breast size, race or socioeconomic status. One in every eight women will get breast cancer and 40% of them will die from it within ten years. In one year alone, the number of deaths in this country from breast cancer nearly equals the total number killed during the entire fourteen years of the VietNam War. This rate has almost doubled in the last thirty years.

MYTH: Regular yearly breast exams detect all breast cancer in it's early stages.
TRUTH: While breast cancers may be found earlier with regular exams, it is fantazy to believe that all cancers will be detected. Most breast cancers have been present for 8 - 10 years before a lump is found. Even mammograms are not 100% accurate. Up to 40% of mammograms do not detect breast cancer in younger women

You are your best defense for early detection. Regular breast self exams are needed beginning in your late teens. You need to become familiar with your body.
Mammography clinics will have to notify women in writing about the results of the breast cancer test. The new regulation by the Food and Drug Administration is in response to reports that some women may not have learned soon enough that they had suspicious mammograms. Mammogram clinics will continue to report results of the X-ray tests to a woman's doctor, who is responsible for ordering additional tests or treatments.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT MAY HELP:

	Breast Cancer Information An information resource maintained by the New York Education and Research Network		Top Ten Decision Lessons
	Breast Self Exam Learn how to do it properly		Caregivers A resource for your caregiver
	FMF - BREAST CANCER NCI FACT SHEET FMF -Hotline (Breast Cancer)		National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations
	Getting the Best Mammogram		Breast Cancer is Not a Lump, It's a Killer Disease-a must-read
	National Cancer Institute		FMF -Hotline (Breast Cancer)

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