“Breast cancer” is a phrase that nobody ever wants to hear. In fact, nobody ever wants to hear the “c” word in general. The good news is that we live in an age of innovation, and doctors and scientists are working around the clock to find a cure for any of the several cancers that are diagnosed on a daily basis.
Because scientists have not yet found a cure for cancer, people often believe that a diagnosis is basically a death sentence. This can lead people to take an “out of sight, out of mind” approach to understanding the disease. This is bad for several reasons. For one, it means that people may not educate themselves on the early signs or prevention. It also means that when people do hear information, they may not know if it’s accurate or not.
Though it’s hard to find a positive in any sort of cancer diagnosis, one silver lining about breast cancer is that the survival rate increases with early detection. And, a big part of early detection is being as informed as possible. We’ve compiled a list of 5 common breast cancer myths and the real truth behind them.
Myth: According to an ABC Poll, 86% of women surveyed believe mammograms should start at age 30-40.
Fact: The United States Preventative Services Task advises that mammograms can start at age 50.
Myth: In that same poll, 65% of respondents said they believe women need mammograms annually.
Fact: The United States Preventative Services Task recommends biannual mammograms.
Myth: Having a female relative with breast cancer means you’ll get breast cancer, too.
Fact: Women with a history of breast cancer in their family are more likely to develop the disease themselves, but it’s not a guarantee. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, only about 10% of those diagnosed breast cancer have a family history.
Myth: Deodorants or antiperspirants cause breast cancer.
Fact: There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that using deodorants or antiperspirants causes cancer. So far, scientists have found no connection between breast cancer and any underarm activity.
Myth: A lump in your breast means you have breast cancer.
Fact: Though breast lumps are a major indicator of breast cancer, not every lump is cancerous. Our bodies do weird things, and one of them is developing growths, lumps, and bumps that turn out to be harmless. However, any sort of change or abnormality should always be examined by a doctor. Remember, early detection is key.
These are just a few myths that, when debunked, make us more powerful against the dreaded “c” word. Why is that? It’s because knowledge is power, and in the case of breast cancer, knowing the signs, symptoms, facts, and truths give us our best chance possible at beating this disease.
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