7 Common breast cancer myths debunked

There are many myths about breast cancer and sometimes it's hard to know what to believe and what to ignore.

There are some things that we know are simply not true; for instance- only women can get breast cancer. In Australia, about 145 men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Here we have attempted to bust the common myths:

The common breast cancer myths debunked.

Myth 1: If your mother or sister or any female relative in your family had it then you are more likely to develop breast cancer in due course of time.

Fact: According to Cancer Australia, Australia's leading cancer organization, our genetic composition is not the only factor that puts us at the risk of developing breast cancer. Only 5-10% of the cases were solely due to mutated BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The organization has been able to correlate the shared contribution of lifestyle habits and genetics in the occurrence of cancer.

Myth 2:Women with bigger breasts are more likely to develop cancer.

Fact: The breasts of every woman has the same number of cells that line the lobules or ducts (the parts that produce and carry milk to the nipple).So the size of breasts depend upon the amount of fat and fibrous tissue(stroma),which varies from woman to woman based on her physical disposition; and no matter what the size, cancer is not caused because of excess or less of fat.

Myth 3:Breast cancer always appears as a lump.

Fact: Yet another erroneous claim, breast cancer commonly presents as a lump but 10% of cases with breast cancer no classic signs was noted with the breasts prior to the detection. Most of the time lumps detected happen to be benign(non-cancerous) called as fibroadenomas.

Myth 4:Mammogram prevent or reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Fact: Mammogram are merely meant for the detection. Early detection prevents breast cancer related deaths by 16%.But it is not an entirely foolproof entity, 20% of tumors are missed by a mammogram.

Hence all women should pay close attention to their bodies, perform self-examination of the breasts and when in doubt consult the physician. According to the American Cancer Society women over 40 must have a mammogram done once in 2 years at least.

Myth 5:Mammogram cause breast cancer.

Fact: The effects of radiation are nothing compared to the risk of late detection. Today the radiation levels received are 50 times less than mammograms done 20 years ago. According to Cancer Australia the health effects are zero.

Myth 6: Birth control pills cause cancer.

Fact: Pill formulation have changed dramatically over the years today the oral contraceptives available in the market have much lower doses of hormones linked to cancer risk. No scientific evidence supports the myth above.

Myth 7: Young women do not get breast cancer.

Fact: Breast cancer commonly affects postmenopausal women, but that does not mean that younger women are not at risk of developing cancer. In 2015, it is estimated that the risk of an individual being diagnosed with breast cancer by their 85th birthday will be 1 in 16 (1 in 719 males and 1 in 8 females) in Australia.

In 2015, it is expected the incidence of breast cancer will increase with age until age group 65–69. It will then decrease for age group 70–79 before increasing for individuals aged 80.

Prevention is any day better than cure. Hence stay vigilant and stay healthy. Read our blog on various support organisations in Australia that help you get through the difficult time.