Breast Cancer Myths Busted!

najrandilmohamud
Oct 30, 2020
4 min read

October was the breast cancer awareness month. However, October or not, we should all have knowledge on of the danger of this widespread cancer. Men as much as women should be aware of this disease because believe it or not, male breast cancer is a real thing. Moreover, any loved one could develop this type of carcinoma.

What is breast cancer, how does it start and progress?

Breast cancer is caused by an abnormal growth of breast cells. These cancerous cells develop more rapidly than any other breast cells to form lumps and masses. The cancer start in the cells of the glandular tissue or those of the milk-producing ducts. It can spread up to the collarbone as well from the armpit to the breastbone. Cancerous cells mays also metastasize to the lymph nodes.

A few Statistics...

*25% of women suffering from a form of cancer have breast cancer. This disease is also responsible for 13% of cancer death in women.

Myths vs. facts

Myth: Breast cancer is based on family history.

Fact: The majority of people who are diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a record of the disease in their family history.

Only 5-10% of breast cancers are known to be hereditary. This can be caused by mutations in some genes. The most popular of these genes are breast cancer gene 1(BRCA1) and breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2). The biggest risk factors are age and sex.

Myth: If you have a healthy lifestyle and limit your alcohol consumption, then you should not worry about breast cancer.

Fact: A healthy lifestyle definitely helps lowering the risk of developing a breast cancer, but it does not eliminate it. It is really important to pay attention to any changes in your breasts, do a self-exam and get screenings done. No one is a 100% safe.

Myth: An overconsumption of sugar can cause breast cancer.

Fact: There is no proof that this is true. Contrary to popular belief, cancerous cells do not “feed” on glucose to grow more rapidly. Nevertheless, it is true that sugar should not be consumed in enormous quantities. It could lead to an unhealthy weight, a risk factor mentioned previously.

Myth: Only getting a mammogram every year saves you from a breast cancer.

Fact: Though an annual mammogram is really important, it is not foolproof. A lot can happen in your body in one year. Pay attention to your chest, perform regular self-exams, get screened and ask you doctor for a physical examination.

How to perform a self-exam: https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-self-exam

Myth: Breast cancers are always accompanied by lumps.

Fact: People believe that if they have no lumps, they should not book appointments for mammographies and screenings. Sometimes, before any lumps appear, breast cancer start by affecting the lymph nodes.

Myth: “Painful or smooth lumps are not cancer”

Fact: Every lumps or mass is concerning and should be checked out by a professional. It could be cancerous or benign but we cannot simply assume without any medical expertise.

Myth: If caught early and treated, breast cancer never comes back.

Fact: While this may be the case for a lot of people, an early diagnosis does not eliminate all risks of a cancer recurrence. The risk of the cancer coming back is the greatest in the first 5 years. It can sadly come back anytime.

Recurrent breast cancer can be local or regional which means that you may be affected in the breasts again or in different parts of your body. Some factors that impact risk are the size of the first tumor, the presence of an infection in the lymph nodes, the grade of the cells, the presence of hormone receptors or copies of HER2 gene and specifics of the treatment.

Myth: Breast cancer only affect middle-aged women.

Fact: It’s true, being a women and being 40 years or older does make you more vulnerable but younger women also get breast cancer, and so can men. 1 in 25 invasive breast cancer cases are found in women under 40. Breast cancer in men is incredibly rare (less than 1%). This is possible as men also have breast tissue that can get infected.

Myths: Many believe that carrying a cellphone near the breast, using antiperspirant and wearing a bra can lead to breast cancer.

Facts:

-Cellphones do emit radiation that can be potentially harmful to the body but there is no proof that it is a cause of breast cancer. The best thing to do is simply to avoid keeping your cellphone close to your chest until more research is available.

-The same thing goes for antiperspirant. The is no evidence that it is a risk factor. Deodorant do have a high concentration in aluminium and other chemicals. Try to opt for a non aluminium deodorant if possible. Better safe than sorry!

-Finally, it is completely false to say that bras cause cancer. This myth comes from social media. Do not believe it!

To conclude, breast cancer has a lifelong impact on its survivors. Even after treatment, women struggle physically and emotionally. They still have to consume an insane amount of medications. Pain, fatigue, neuropathy and menopausal symptoms can be felt. Some women may develop anxiety and live in fear of having cancer again. Finally, surgeries and treatments often affect the body figure of a women which can damage their self-esteem.

It is so important to inform others about the ways they can prevent this devastating cancer and promote the finding of a cure to it.

References & Sources to consult for more details