October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, during which time women’s health advocates all over the nation educate people about breast cancer prevention, detection, and treatment, in hopes that more women will learn the important facts about breast cancer. Prominent news groups, medical associations, government agencies, women’s interest groups, and others collaborate to spread the word about breast cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, 270,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and more than 40,400 women with breast cancer are expected to die. While these are the cold hard facts about breast cancer, many women’s health advocates are focusing on busting breast cancer myths so that women can learn the all the facts about this disease. Lucy Danziger, Self magazine editor-in-chief, reminds women about the three “A’s” of fighting breast cancer: Awareness, Action, and Advocacy.
The following statements are myths about breast cancer:
If breast cancer isn’t in your family you don’t have to worry. According to genetic studies, twenty percent of women with a family background of breast cancer who actually inherit the mutated gene for breast cancer will get the disease. Less than ten percent of breast cancer is hereditary. If breast cancer is in your family you may wish to consider speaking with your doctor and begin regular mammography screenings before the age of forty.
Your father’s family history doesn’t count. Both men and women can carry the “breast cancer gene.” This means that a father or a mother can pass this gene on to their children. A diagnosis of breast cancer before menopause is also more likely the cause of an inherited trait, while breast cancer that develops after menopause has a greater number of possible causes.
Having a mammogram can prevent cancer. While mammograms cannot prevent cancer, they are the best way to detect breast cancer early. Early breast cancer detection is the key to a favorable prognosis. Most doctors recommend that women begin having routine mammograms at the age of 40, though some women may be advised to begin sooner.
Deodorant causes breast cancer. This major myth might be born out of the instructions that women are given before having a mammogram. Women are asked not to wear deodorant before a mammogram because its particles can show up on the x-rays, NOT because deoderant causes breast cancer.
If you have breast cancer, you need a mastectomy. There are a number of alternative breast cancer treatments which do not require the complete removal of the affected breast. Radiation, chemotherapy, and some medicines may be useful in treating breast cancer. For many women, a lumpectomy (the removal of just the tumor and some surrounding tissue) is an effective, and more conservative, option to a mastectomy. A doctor can discuss breast cancer treatments in greater detail based on a woman’s specific condition.
Breast cancer is a life-threatening emergency. Being diagnosed with breast cancer is, no doubt, a frightening experience. But there is usually plenty of time to receive a second opinion and get more information. When breast cancer is detected early, the prognosis is high (98 percent survival rate) and there are many non-surgical treatments that may be helpful. When you are diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that you are a consumer and a patient. It is wise to do some research about your options and be proactive about your care.
If you have other questions about breast cancer, there is a wealth of information available to you from numerous sources, including this website. Speaking with your doctor about your questions and concerns is a great way to get specific detailed answers about breast cancer.