Myths and Facts About Breast Cancer

       A diagnosis of breast cancer brings confusion, uncertainty, fear, and unsolicited advice and can make a woman feel she is losing self control of her life. One way a woman may regain control is to help make decisions about her treatment. To do this, she needs accurate information about treatment options and possible outcomes-not the old wives’ tale passed on by well-meaning but misguided acquaintances. We have identified the most common myths about breast cancer and given you the facts as well.

MYTH : Breast cancer incedence is low among Filipino women.

FACT: The Philippines has the highest incidence rate among Asian countries and number 9 worldwide.

MYTH: All breast cancers occur in the same structures of the breast.

FACT: The majority of breast cancers occur in the ducts of the breast, which connects the milk -producing glands  to the nipple. However, some breast cancers occur in the lobules, the milk producing glands of the breast.

MYTH: A woman has little or no risk of breast cancer if she has no family history of breast cancer.

FACT: More than 75% of women with cancer have no family history of the disease. Simply being female puts all women at risk.

MYTH: Estrogen cause breast cancer.

FACT: No data have shown that estrogens in birth control pills and estrogens given to women after menopause cause breast cancer. But, if a breast cancer is already present, estrogen may stimulate its growth.

MYTH: Breast cancer does not occur in young women.

FACT: Breast cancer is more common in women older than 5o, but it can and does occur in women of all ages.

MYTH: Women with large breasts have a greater risk of having cancer.

FACT: Size has no relation to risk. it is however, sometimes more difficult to examine large breasts because there is more tissue to mask a lump.

MYTH: Breast -feeding prevents cancer.

FACT: Breast-feeding has many benefits, but it reduces the risk of breast cancer very little, if at all.

MYTH: An injury to the breast can cause breast cancer.

FACT: Cancer is not caused by hurting or bruising the breast. But when a cancer is already present, it is often detected when a woman touches her breast after an injury.

MYTH: Mammography is painful and can harm the breast.

FACT: During mammography, the breast is compressed. Although this can be uncomfortable, it is not harmful to the breast and is usually not painful. Scheduling the mammogram after the menstrual period, when the breasts are less tender, will reduce discomfort.

MYTH: A breast cancer will always be painless.

FACT: Most early breast cancers do not hurt. However, some are associated with unusual sensations in the breast including soreness or burning.

MYTH: Most lumps in the breast are cancer.

FACT: Eight out of ten lumps are benign, or not cancerous. Most breast lumps are not cancer. However,  it is important to obtain a definite diagnosis instead of assuming that a lump is harmless.

MYTH: If the mammography report comes back as "negative", there is nothing else to worry about.

FACT: Mammograms do not show 10% to 15% of all breast cancers. Any suspicious mass must be further investigated.

MYTH: Removal of  entire breast is safer than segmental mastectomy and radiation therapy.

FACT: Survival is similar for patients who have breast-conserving therapy and those who undergo total or modified radical mastectomy.

MYTH: Women with a strong family history of breast cancer should not consider breast -conserving therapy.

FACT: A strong family history of breast cancer is not a contradiction to breast-conserving therapy. The decision about which treatment to use should take into account several factors such as stage of the breast cancer, body build and lifestyle.

MYTH: Once the lymph nodes are removed from the armpit, there will always be swelling of the arm.

FACT: Some women experience swelling of the affected arm (lymphedema). However, with less radical surgery, & careful attention to the proper use of the land and arm on the affected side, swelling is not common and usually not severe.

MYTH: Women should not have immediate breast reconstruction. It is best to wait a couple of years to make sure the cancer does not recur.

FACT: With proper surgical removal of the cancer in the breast, there is no reason to delay reconstruction in most patients. in fact, immediate reconstruction is often preferable since only one surgery is required & the cosmetic results can be better.

MYTH: Radiation therapy burns & destroys the skin of the breast.

FACT: The X-rays used to treat breast cancer can cause temporary redness of the skin much like a sunburn. This can be soothed with an ointment & diminishes after the completion of treatment.

MYTH: Women receiving radiation therapy should avoid physical contact with friends and family because of possible radioactivity.

FACT: The form of X-ray energy used to treat breast cancer does not linger in the body. Other than slight tenderness of the treated areas, there is no reason to avoid physical contact with others.

MYTH: A mammogram can cause breast cancer to spread.

FACT: An X-ray of the breast is called a mammogram. The X-ray and the pressure on the breast from the X-ray machine cannot cause cancer to spread.

MYTH: Women receiving radiation therapy should avoid physical contact with friends and family because of possible radioactivity.

FACT: The form of