Busting breast cancer myths

Breast cancer is one of the most misunderstood ailments. Perhaps it’s the fear that overshadows the facts. To fear it is understandable, among Asian countries, the incidence of breast cancer in the Philippines is highest and it increases annually by 5 percent. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While fearing the disease may be normal, it will help to understand it better.

Many myths surround this dreaded sickness. A friend has stopped wearing deodorant for fear that the chemicals in the personal care product could cause cancer. Many men are confident that they won’t get the disease. Which ones are scientifically proven? Which ones are controversies? Let’s level up how much we know about breast cancer. A little illumination can go a long way.

There is a myth, for example, that goes women with small breasts are at a lower risk of getting breast cancer. This is false. Fat and tissue affect breast size. Cancer develops in the breasts’ lobules – ducts that all women have whether breasts are small or not. Obesity, however, has been pointed out to be a risk factor for breast cancer since obese women tend to have larger breasts than women with normal weight, this may have been where the myth originated. According to an article on the Cornell University website, most studies show that body weight does affect a woman’s risk having of breast cancer, especially after menopause.

Have you heard that you are likely to have breast cancer if you have a family history of the disease? This is also false. Women can get breast cancer with or without family history of the disease. Breast cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 are around 5% to 10% and these genes are closely linked to the hereditary form. Exact causes of breast cancer have not been determined yet, but researches shared some risks of recurrence.

Women are encouraged to conduct regular breast self-examinations. The basic lesson is feeling around the breast for lumps or thickness in some areas. Does finding a lump in your breast immediately mean you have breast cancer? No, it doesn’t. First, not all bumps are malignant. These bumps and lumps could be cysts or fibroadenomas (non-cancerous tumours). Lumpy, tender areas often occur when one’s period is about to arrive. However, if the lump doesn’t go away it’s best to see a doctor. Second, breast cancer can manifest itself in ways other than lumps. Be conscious of the following when examining your breasts:

A change in how the breast or nipple feels and look, such as red or swollen skin, crusting, dimpling, ridges or pitting
Tenderness in the breast and nipple, particularly feeling warm to the touch
A change in the size and shape of the breast
A nipple or skin that turns inward
Nipple discharge
Swollen node in the armpit area, a sore on the skin of the breast

While these may not immediately mean you have cancer, it is best to see your physician the soonest possible.

Almost a decade ago, an e-mail chain exploded on the net saying that deodorants and antiperspirant can cause breast cancer. This is considered a myth. The e-mail mentioned that chemicals in both products, particularly aluminium and parabens, could be absorbed by the skin. Because sweat is a way of shedding toxins, and anti-perspirant prevents one from perspiring, the toxins are deposited back into the lymph nodes and lead to cell mutations A 2002 research by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found no link between the aforementioned toiletries and breast cancer. Currently, no studies have shown that chemicals in deodorants and antiperspirants can cause breast cancer.

Does breast cancer affect a certain demographic? Sometimes the young think they are invincible. A myth has gone around saying that breast cancer only affects older women. This is false. While risk increases as one grows older, breast cancer can occur at any age. In fact, younger women who are diagnosed with breast cancer experience a more aggressive cancer and may have higher mortality rates. This may be because they have denser breasts, which make it more difficult to feel for lumps. It is critical, therefore, to start performing monthly breast exams early.

In 1995, a book called Dressed to Kill by husband and wife medical anthropologist team Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer declared that wearing a tight-fitting bra everyday can put a women at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. The logic? The bra prevents proper lymphatic drainage, trapping harmful chemicals and toxins in the breast tissue, which then leads to cancer. This has been considered a myth. No clinical studies have supported this claim. Breastcancer.org shares that “what you wear... [does] not affect your risk for breast cancer.”

Let’s talk about mammograms. Is it true that mammograms can reduce your risk of breast cancer? No. Mammograms can help detect breast cancer that exists. This detection can then help reduce deaths among breast cancer patients. Do note that mammograms are only 80% effective at detecting breast cancer, meaning that it has a 20% chance of missing tumours. It is therefore important to continue a monthly breast self-examination, as well as have an annual clinical breast exam in combination with a high-quality mammogram.

The final myth: breast cancer is preventable. There aren’t enough studies to establish what causes breast cancer. It is possible to determine certain risk factors that can help lower your risk of getting the disease. These could be lifestyle changes such as losing weight, increasing activity, getting regular exams, eliminating alcohol consumption and smoking, as well as understanding family history. However, approximately 70 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors. Breast cancer seems to be a game of chance.

Breast cancer can really be frightening. We may not know what directly causes it. We may not know everything about it. What we know for sure though is that the more we know, the more we can understand it and make informed decisions. Let’s tame these fears with knowledge. Then let’s help ease others’ anxiety by sharing what we know. Helping debunk myths could be the first step to converting fear into action, which can lead to us women taking better care of ourselves.