October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Americans impacted by the disease take time to don’t forget those who have suffered, also as to help move discussion forward toward treatment and prevention. Knowing the breast cancer facts and breast cancer myths can be invaluable.
The numbers all over Cancer of the breast Awareness Month
Women were diagnosed with 192,370 brand new cases of invasive cancer of the breast and 62,280 early-stage cancer of the breast 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 cancer of the breast last year. Death was a prediction of some of those. About 440 of those were given that diagnosis.
Cancer of the breast misconceptions
- Bras with underwire make cancer more likely
The false belief here is that by constricting breast tissue, underwire bras cause cancer-causing toxins to build up. The truth, Dr. Deborah Axelrod tells Columbia Broadcasting System, is that no such link exists.
- Deodorant has a link to breast cancer
Dr. Schnabel explains that this also isn’t true. Cancer isn’t at all linked to antiperspirant. Many think it is the toxins which isn’t true.
- Plastic water bottles trigger breast cancer
Some believe that cancer could be caused by water that has been sitting in bottles that leak dioxin to the water. You will find lots of doctors that entirely disagree with this though. There isn’t a connection between BPA (bisphenol) and cancer of the breast although some believe that it leaks into the water from the plastic also.
- Get cancer of the breast from mammograms
CBS 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.
- More risk with lumpy breasts
A woman will not be getting breast cancer because of lumpy breasts although it could be more difficult to detect with lumpy breasts. A doctor should investigate if you find new breast lumps, reports Dr. Axelrod, as it could mean cancer.
- I will not get cancer of the breast with no family history
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
