According to the World Health Organization (WHO)Trusted Source, 685,000 people died from breast cancer in 2020, while 2.3 million were diagnosed. It stated: "By the end of 2020, 7.8 million women alive had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the previous five years, making it the world's most prevalent cancer." Its prevalence may explain why there are so many myths surrounding it. Here, we'll look at 15 of the most common misconceptions.
1. Breast cancer can be caused by a breast injury.
"Injury to the breast cannot cause breast cancer," Dr. Zeidman explained, "but it can cause changes in the breast that may mimic breast cancer on imaging." "This process is called 'fat necrosis,' and it can look like an irregular mass with jagged edges on a mammogram, much like the appearance of a new breast cancer," he added. A needle biopsy is the best way to distinguish cancer from fat necrosis."
2. Breast cancer is increased by wearing underwire bras.
Although underwire bras do not increase the risk of breast cancer, Dr. Zeidman always recommends wire-free bras. "The wire can irritate the skin under the breast, which can lead to skin breakdown," he says. This breakdown could allow bacteria to enter the breast, resulting in infection, [an] abscess, or both."
3. Breast cancer risk is increased by IVF.
Doctors frequently prescribe drugs that stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs as part of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure. These medications mimic the action of estrogen. As a result, some experts wondered if they might promote the growth of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. These cancer cells, as the name implies, have estrogen receptors on their membranes. "While there are no randomized controlled trials looking to answer this question," Dr. Zeidman explained, "a recent meta-analysis of all observational studies conducted over the last 30 years concluded that there is no increase in breast cancer risk for women who received ovarian stimulation drugs when compared to the general population."
4. Because no one in my family has had breast cancer, I will not get it.
This is a myth that Dr. Zeidman is familiar with, he told Medical News Today: "It is very common for [people] with a new breast cancer diagnosis to tell me how shocked they are considering that they have no family history." As Dr. Fancher explained to us, "only about 5-10%Trusted Source of breast cancers are caused by a genetic mutation that is passed between family members. This means that the majority of breast cancers are sporadic or have no hereditary cause." Screening is important because family history is only one factor in the risk of breast cancer. Dr. Zeidman emphasized the importance of regular checkups.
5. Breast cancer can be caused by stress.
With the constant stresses of modern life, it is understandable that people are concerned about how stress may affect their health. That is not to say that stress has no effect on health. "Part of being human is finding effective ways to deal with the stress we will all inevitably face," he continues. This can have significant mental and physical health benefits, but it does nothing to reduce the risk of breast cancer."
6. A healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of breast cancer.
"While it is true that overweight postmenopausal women are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer, there is nothing a woman can do to eliminate breast cancer risk," Dr. Zeidman explained. "Even women who undergo bilateral mastectomy are still at risk of developing a new breast cancer." However, he is not suggesting anyone starts "smoking and eating fast food every day." More generally, he believes that "it is of the utmost importance to take care of your body because you only get one. However, breast cancer has been diagnosed in world-class athletes."
7. Breast cancer only affects older people.
"While it is true that the risk of breast cancer increases with age, and the average age of a new breast cancer diagnosis is 61 years," Dr. Zeidman explained. “About 5% of new breast cancer diagnoses are in women under the age of 40 years. Unfortunately, there have been reports of women in their early twenties and even teens being diagnosed. These young women typically have a strong family history."
Breast cancer is common, and while a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk, vigilance is essential. The sooner a doctor detects breast cancer, the better the chances of survival.
ZDS DMO II Marie-Claire Gaas, RND
References:
1. Medical Myths: 15 breast cancer misconceptions
By Tim Newman on October 7, 2021 — Fact checked by Ferdinand Lali, Ph.D.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/medical-myths-15-breast-cancer-misconceptions
