This month of October is noted by numerous as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The month is in equal parts thinking about those who have gone before and supporting the movement toward breaking the disease’s hold on humanity. Knowing the breast cancer facts and breast cancer myths could be invaluable.
The numbers around Breast cancer Awareness Month
Women were diagnosed with 192,370 brand new cases of invasive breast cancer and 62,280 early-stage breast cancer in 2009 alone, reports American Cancer Society. Death was predicted in a ton of them. About 40,000 had this told to them. Last year a lot more men were diagnosed as well. About 2,000 men were told this. Death was a prediction of some of those. About 440 of those were given that diagnosis.
Myths of cancer of the breast
- Underwire bras promote breast cancer growth
The false belief here is that by constricting breast tissue, underwire bras trigger cancer-causing toxins to build up. Dr. Deborah Axelrod explains to CBS that this isn’t really true.
- Deodorant has a link to breast cancer
This is also false, claims Dr. Schnabel. No studies have shown a link between antiperspirant and toxins that cause cancer of the breast.
- Drink from plastic water bottles and get breast cancer
Some believe that cancer could be brought on by water that has been sitting in bottles that leak dioxin to the water. You will find a lot of doctors that completely 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 won’t be getting cancer of the breast as a result of lumpy breasts although it can be more difficult to detect with lumpy breasts. Dr. Axelrod explains that it is very important try to find new lumps still. If they’re found, a doctor should check out them.
- No history of breast cancer makes you safe
80 percent of cancer of the breast is sporadic, although it can trace through a family also.
Citations
American Cancer Society
cancer.org/Research/CancerFactsFigures/BreastCancerFactsFigures/index
CBS News
cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20018296-10391704.html
