Breast Cancer awareness month comes with the dawning of October. Remembering the fallen and advancing with great strides toward prevention and cure is both a personal and national act of healing. Being aware of the facts about breast cancer and the myths regarding cancer of the breast are vital elements in the battle.
Many commemorate Breast cancer Awareness Month
According to American Cancer Society estimates, in 2009 there were 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 62,280 early-stage breast cancer diagnosed in women. Over 40,000 of those were considered to be life threatening. Also, 2,000 men were diagnosed with breast cancer last year. 440 of those men were told that death would be near.
Breast cancer misconceptions
- You’ll get cancer from an underwire bra
This one generally is a false belief about constricting breast tissue. The idea is the underwire will cause toxins to build up that way causing cancer. The truth, Dr. Deborah Axelrod tells Columbia Broadcasting System, is that no such link exists.
- Deodorant causes breast cancer
Dr. Schnabel explains that this also is not true. There have not even been studies that link cancer of the breast with antiperspirant and cancer.
- Get breast cancer from plastic water bottles
Some believe that cancer can be brought on by water that has been sitting in bottles that leak dioxin to the water. There are a lot of doctors that completely disagree with this though. Numerous believe the plastic releases BPA (bisphenol) also. This been linked to cancer either but is a concern for many.
- Get breast cancer from mammograms
Dr. Schnabel tells Columbia Broadcasting System News that the amount of radiation (.1 to .2 rads per picture) released in a mammogram is equal to or less than what a woman’s breasts are exposed to naturally over a three-month period.
- More risk with lumpy breasts
While lumpy breasts can make breast cancer detection somewhat more difficult, having lumpy breasts does not resign a woman to breast cancer. A doctor should investigate if you discover new breast lumps, reports Dr. Axelrod, as it could mean cancer.
- No family history, no breast cancer
80 percent of breast cancer is sporadic, although it can trace via a family as well.
Citations
American Cancer Society
cancer.org/Research/CancerFactsFigures/BreastCancerFactsFigures/index
CBS News
cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20018296-10391704.html
