October opens, and Breast Cancer Awareness Month is here. Americans impacted by the disease take time to keep in mind anyone who has suffered, also as to help move discussion forward toward treatment and prevention. Cancer of the breast survivors, family members and even anyone who has been lucky enough to have never encountered the disease could all do well to understand the reality and myths about breast cancer this month.
Breast cancer Awareness Month details
Women were diagnosed with 192,370 brand new cases of invasive cancer of the breast and 62,280 early-stage breast cancer in 2009 alone, reports American Cancer Society. Over 40,000 of those were considered to be life threatening. Also, 2,000 men were diagnosed with breast cancer this past year. Of those, about 440 were forecasted to die.
Common cancer of the breast myths
- Bras with underwire make cancer more likely
The false belief here is that by constricting breast tissue, underwire bras trigger cancer-causing toxins to build up. This is not true. That is made clear by Dr. Deborah Axelrod who spoke to CBS.
- Breast cancer could be caused by something else. This is deodorant
This is not true either. Dr. Schnabel explains this. There have not even been studies that link breast cancer with antiperspirant and cancer.
- Plastic water bottles cause breast cancer
There’s a debate on whether or not a cancer-causing dioxin is leaked into the water by sitting in plastic water bottles, although there is not a consensus. There is not a connection between BPA (bisphenol) and cancer of the breast although some believe that it leaks to the water from the plastic also.
- Breast cancer can come from tests. Mammograms to be specific
Columbia Broadcasting System News hears from Dr. Schnabel that women’s breasts are exposed to more radiation in a three-month period than a mammogram gives which is .1 to .2 rads per picture.
- Lumpy breasts increase chances
While lumpy breasts can make breast cancer detection somewhat more difficult, having lumpy breasts doesn’t resign a woman to cancer of the breast. A doctor should investigate if you find new breast lumps, reports Dr. Axelrod, as it could mean cancer.
- No history of cancer of the breast makes you safe
While cancer of the breast can run within the family, studies indicate that 80 percent are sporadic cases.
Data from
American Cancer Society
cancer.org/Research/CancerFactsFigures/BreastCancerFactsFigures/index
CBS News
cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20018296-10391704.html
