The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 23.3 million people were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, and 685,000 people died from the disease. It stated that breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, with 7.8 million women alive as of the end of 2020 who received a diagnosis within the previous five years. Its widespread occurrence may contribute to the explanation of the various myths that surround it. We’ll address 15 of the most prevalent misconceptions here.

A breast injury can cause breast cancer
Dr. Zeidman clarified that while injuries to the breast cannot directly cause breast cancer, they can result in changes to the breast that may appear on imaging to be breast cancer. He went on, “This process is called fat necrosis, and it can appear on a mammography as an irregular mass with jagged edges, similar to the appearance of a newly discovered breast cancer.”. A needle biopsy is the most reliable method of differentiating between fat necrosis and cancer.

Underwire bras increase the risk of breast cancer
Underwire bras do not raise the risk of breast cancer, but Dr. Zeidman always suggests wire-free bras. He clarifies that skin breakdown may result from irritation of the skin beneath the breast caused by the wire. Bacteria may enter the breast as a result of this breakdown and cause an infection, an abscess, or both.

IVF increases the risk of breast cancer
Doctors often prescribe medications that stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs as part of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process. These medications imitate the effects of estrogen. This led some experts to question if they could promote the spread of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. These cancer cells have estrogen receptors on their membranes, as the name would imply. According to Dr. Zeidman, despite the lack of randomized controlled trials addressing this issue, a recent meta-analysis of all observational studies conducted over the previous 30 years found no increased risk of breast cancer in women who received ovarian stimulation drugs when compared to the general population.

No one in my family had breast cancer, so I won’t develop it
Dr. Zeidman said he was aware of this myth: It is very common for people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time to tell me how shocked they are considering that they have no family history. In response, I say that most patients I see who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer do not have any risk factors. Being a woman is, in fact, the biggest risk factor for developing breast cancer. One in eight American women will experience breast cancer at some point in their lives.

Just 5–10% of breast cancers are brought on by a genetic mutation that is inherited from family members, as Dr. Fancher clarified for us. This indicates that most cases of breast cancer are unpredictable or not related to a family history. Screening is crucial because family history is not the only factor that affects a person’s risk of breast cancer. The message is that regardless of a family history of breast cancer, every woman starting at age 40 should have a yearly mammogram, according to Dr. Reitherman. By the time they are thirty years old, women who have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer should be assessed by a genetic counselor. It may be necessary for these women to start screening for breast cancer before turning 40. Please get your screening mammogram if you are a woman and at least 40 years old.

Being stressed can cause breast cancer
It should come as no surprise that people are worried about the potential health effects of stress given the constant stresses of modern life. But as Dr. Zeidman informed us, there is no proof at all that stress and breast cancer are related. In actuality, there is proof that stress does not raise the risk of breast cancer. That’s not to argue stress has no effect on health, though. He continues: Developing coping mechanisms for the stress that we will all unavoidably experience is a necessary aspect of being human. While there may be significant psychological and physical health benefits, there will be no reduction in the risk of breast cancer.

A healthy lifestyle eliminates breast cancer risk
Dr. Zeidman clarified that although postmenopausal women who are overweight are more likely to get breast cancer, there is nothing a woman can do to completely prevent breast cancer risk. Women who have bilateral mastectomy are still susceptible to getting breast cancer again. He is not, however, advocating that people begin smoking and consuming fast food daily. In general, he feels that since you only have one body, it is vital to take the best possible care of it. However, elite athletes have also received a breast cancer diagnosis.

Breast cancer only happens to older adults
Though the average age of a new breast cancer diagnosis is 61 years, women’s age indeed increases their risk of developing the disease. However, breast cancer can strike at a much younger age; approximately 5% of new cases are diagnosed in women under 40. Regretfully, there have been accounts of women receiving diagnoses who were as young as teens or early in their 20s. These young ladies usually have a strong family history. If your strong family history indicates that you have a significant lifetime risk of breast cancer, you may be eligible for genetic testing and early screening beginning at age 25.

All lumps in the breast signal breast cancer
This is untrue not every breast lump indicates cancer. According to Dr. Zeidman, most newly discovered breast lumps are benign. Additionally, that percentage is probably even higher if your most recent mammography came back normal. Dr. Zeidman did clarify, though, that a medical professional should examine any new lump.

Having an abortion increases the risk of breast cancer
This question arises because, as Dr. Zeidman informed us, estrogen exposure directly increases the risk of breast cancer, and abortion disrupts the normal hormonal cycle of pregnancy. Even though a randomized controlled trial is impossible to conduct to answer this question, a sizable observational study involving 1.5 million women in Denmark found no connection between breast cancer and abortion. He clarified that in addition to this analysis, numerous other extensive studies had reached the same conclusion.

Carrying a phone in your bra can cause cancer
We may discover that this is the case in the future, but we do not currently have any long-term studies. Why can’t you just tuck your phone into your pocket or purse for the time being?

Nipple piercings increase breast cancer risk
This is untrue, according to Dr. Dot Zeidman: having a nipple piercing does not raise your risk of breast cancer. He went on to explain, though, that these may result in more uncommon but dangerous illnesses like HIV and hepatitis B and C, as well as infections, abscesses, nerve damage, keloids, cysts, and trouble nursing because of blocked ducts from scar tissue. He stated, “I always advise against nipple piercing because of these reasons.”. I advise taking it down if the deed is completed.

Sugar causes breast cancer
Dr. Zeidman is adamant about the need to stay away from sugar in general. It’s compulsive. He went on, It can lead to mood swings and insulin spikes, which puts the body in a pro-inflammatory state. Diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic inflammatory disorders can then result from this. Overindulgence in sugar can lead to obesity, which increases the risk of breast cancer.

He did, however, clarify that research on the relationship between sugar and breast cancer has been inconsistent and of mixed results. In the context of sugar talk, it’s important to dispel the related myth that sugar promotes tumor growth. This myth developed because cancer cells require a lot of energy due to their rapid division. According to Dr. Zeidman, I still recommend avoiding added sugar as much as possible for overall well-being, even though there isn’t any hard evidence to support this.

Men do not get breast cancer
According to Dr. Zeidman, men can also develop breast cancer because they have breasts. Indeed, 1 percent of all diagnoses for breast cancer in the U.S. in males. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that in 2017, there were 500 deaths and 2,300 new cases of male breast cancer. According to Dr. Dot Fancher, although breast cancer is more common in women than in men, men can still develop the disease.

Since there are no screening recommendations for men, men must be aware of any changes in their breasts. Even if there isn’t a significant family history, you should still report any lumps, pains, or changes to your doctor. Dr. Reitherman continued, “The most common risk factor is a family history of breast cancer. Men are diagnosed with breast cancer rarely. For males who carry the BRCA2 gene, the risk of breast cancer is significantly elevated by this mutation.

Mammograms cause breast cancer to spread
Dr. Zeidman informed us that this is a common misconception she encounters with her patients. The theory is that the cancer will spread to other areas of the breast if it is compressed during a mammography or if it is removed with a needle biopsy. He does, however, affirm: There is no evidence to support this. Dr. Reitherman concurs, saying there is no proof at all that mammograms cause breast cancer. There is no proof or theory linking the very low radiation and compression used during a mammography procedure to the development of breast cancer.

If there is no lump, there is no cancer
Dr. Zeidman stated that mammograms would not be necessary if this were the case. Because mammograms enable us to detect cancer before it becomes palpable in this case, palpable refers to the ability for a person to feel a lump with their fingers they have been shown to save lives. When breast cancer is detected in its early stages and treated, the chance of survival approaches 100%.

As the stage progresses, survival decreases. In fact, Dr. Zeidman continued, the cancer might never become palpable and still spread to other parts of the body. Many breast cancers are discovered on screening mammograms and may not be felt, according to Dr. Dot Fancher. This is particularly true for ductal carcinoma in situ or noninvasive breast cancer, which may only manifest as calcifications on a screening mammography.

Breast cancer is a common disease, and although leading a healthy lifestyle may somewhat lower the risk, awareness is essential. A doctor’s chances of surviving breast cancer increase with early detection.

Reference:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/medical-myths-15-breast-cancer-misconceptions?utm_source=ReadNext#The-take-home

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