Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in India. One in every twenty-eight Indian women is likely to develop breast cancer during her lifetime. Fortunately, it is one of the treatable forms of cancer. Although there is a lot more breast cancer awareness now than before, there is still lots of misinformation among people. Myths and facts are often interchanged resulting in people getting the wrong information. Here are some common myths and the truth about breast cancer
1.Women without a family history of breast cancer are not at risk.
Many people believe that breast cancer is a genetically inherited disease. But only about 5–10% of breast cancers are believed to be hereditary, the majority of women diagnosed have no close relatives with this disease. As women age the healthy breast cells can develop mutations on their own, eventually turning into cancer cells.
2.Wearing underwire bras causes breast cancer.
Media coverage and the internet have fueled myths that wearing a bra can increase breast cancer risk. The theory was that wearing a bra could restrict the flow of lymph fluid out of the breast, causing toxic substances to build up in the tissue. But there are no studies that indicate this.
3.Mammography can always find breast cancer.
Although mammography is a very good screening tool, it isn’t foolproof. You can sometimes get a false negative, around 20% of breast cancer screening gives a false-negative result. Women with dense breast tissue are more likely to get a false report.
4.If a lump is cancerous then mastectomy is the only option.
With the advancement in technology, mastectomy is not the only available option, now women have more than one choice. Sometimes mastectomy is unavoidable, approximately only 25% of women require a mastectomy, but for the remaining 75%, there is a choice.
5. Only women can get breast cancer.
Breast cancer occurs primarily in women, but occasionally it can occur in men also. It is most common in older men, though it can occur at any age. Many people do not realize that men have breast tissue and that it’s possible for them to develop breast cancer.
6.Sugar causes breast cancer.
Consuming excess sugar leads to spikes in insulin, which puts the body in a pro-inflammatory state. This, in turn, can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic inflammatory diseases. While consuming too much sugar can result in obesity, which is a risk factor for breast cancer. But there is no direct relationship between sugar and breast cancer.
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