Breast Cancer Facts & Fiction
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005 statistics name breast cancer as the 7th largest cause of death among women. As prevalent as breast cancer is, it is no wonder that there are so many fictions about the disease floating around out there. So, what is breast cancer fiction and what is breast cancer fact?
Cause
The idea that wearing a bra, especially a snug-fitting bra, may cause breast cancer because the bra may trap toxins in the breast originated from a book written by Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer entitled, "Dressed to Kill." The National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre of Australia (NBOCC) says that there is no scientific proof to back up this claim. The Centre says the same about the misconception that antiperspirants contribute to the development of breast cancer because they "cause toxins to build up in the lymph glands of the armpit, which then cause cancer in the breast tissue." Myths about injuries to the breast and the consumption of cow's milk causing breast cancer are also unsupported by scientific data, according to the NBOCC of Australia.
Demographic
According to Christine Many of Reader's Digest, the idea that only women can develop breast cancer is simply not true. For breast cancer to form there needs to be breast tissue, something that is present in both men and women. The misconception that if there is no history of breast cancer in the family, there is no chance a person can develop breast cancer, isn't true either, Many explains. "About 80% of women who get breast cancer have no known family history of the disease...If you have a family history of breast cancer, your risk may be elevated a little, a lot, or not at all." About the misconception that breast cancer only strikes older women, experts at the University of Michigan Cancer Center say, "Breast cancer can affect women of any age. The disease is more common in post-menopausal women, but 25 percent of women with breast cancer are younger than 50."
Mammograms
In an article on Reader'sDigest.com, Christine Many refutes the idea that mammograms are painful and dangerous because of radiation exposure (see Resources). Many states that while mammograms are momentarily uncomfortable, they are not painful and the radiation exposure during a mammogram is minimal. About the misconception that monthly breast exams are the best way to detect lumps in the breast, Many says, "High-quality mammography is the most reliable way to find breast cancer as early as possible--when it is most curable. By the time a tumor can be felt, it is usually bigger than the average size of one first detected by mammogram."
Treatment
Experts at the University of Michigan's Cancer Center explain that there is no scientific data to back up the misconception that any combination of herbal supplements or a special diet will cure their breast cancer (see Resources). They also explain that there is no need to fear that radiation treatments will cause burns to the ribs, lungs and heart because, "Current radiation techniques are safe and effective for treating breast cancer, with few complications. Methods used today minimize exposure to the heart, ribs and lungs."
Surgery
Experts at the University of Michigan's Cancer Center also put to rest the myth that if a cancerous lump is exposed to the air during surgery it will spread, by explaining that the only thing that can promote spreading is waiting to treat the cancer. A woman going in for a breast biopsy sometimes fears that her surgeon might decide to perform a mastectomy without her prior consent. They go on to explain, "Before the biopsy operation, you will sign an informed consent form that explains exactly what procedure will be performed...Women have many more treatment options and a surgeon will always discuss these options with patients after a biopsy."
Tags: breast cancer, breast cancer, misconception that, that there, Cancer Center, idea that, Michigan Cancer
