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A cure for 11 breast cancer myths

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Fort Wayne, Indiana (June 5, 2006) — 1. I'm too young to get breast cancer.
While it’s true that the risk of breast cancer increases as we grow older, breast cancer can and does occur in very young women – even in their teens. No lump should be ignored!

2. I have no family history of cancer, so this probably isn't breast cancer.
The majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer (80%) have no family history of cancer. So, there is not a decreased risk based on a family health history without cancer. However, a family history of cancer (on your mother’s or father’s side) puts you in an increased risk category. Having first degree relatives (mothers and sisters) who have been affected also puts you in an increased risk category.

3. Breast cancer is preventable.
Although drugs like Tamoxifen may decrease risk in certain women, the cause of breast cancer remains unknown. Breast cancer mortality, however, is becoming increasingly preventable with early detection and treatment.

4. Having yearly mammograms will expose me to too much radiation and increase my risk of cancer.
According to the American College of Radiology, the benefits of annual mammograms far outweigh any risks that may occur from minute exposures to radiation used during screening procedures.

5. Monthly self breast exams are not an effective tool because I don't know what I'm looking for.
Breast self awareness works, and it remains a useful tool for detection. All you need to do is have a baseline understanding of how your breasts normally feel. Each time you do a self exam, you should feel for anything unusual and consult your physician immediately if you notice a change.

6. If I'm diagnosed wth breast cancer, I'll probably die from it.
The number of women diagnosed with breast cancer has been rising substantially each year, but the death rate has been steadily declining. Of diagnosed patients, 80% are still alive after five years. Better treatment and early diagnosis are two reasons for these improved outcomes. Promising treatment breakthroughs are being introduced every year.

7. If I test positive for the breast cancer gene mutation, I’m at astronomical risk for developing breast cancer and should take drastic preventative measures.
How a particular mutation influences your risk for developing breast cancer depends on what other risk factors you may already have. A genetic counselor can help you sort out whether you should be tested.

8. Breast cancer is a woman’s disease.
Breast cancer in men is rare (1% of all diagnosed cases). However, the mortality rate is higher among men because they don’t realize they can develop breast cancer and, consequentially, it goes untreated until it has reached a late stage.

9. If a lump is cancerous, a mastectomy is the only option.
Today, many women have treatment options. The combination of lump removal (lumpectomy) and radiation therapy are offered when possible and are equally effective as mastectomy.

10. All women have a one-in-eight chance of developing breast cancer today.
The "one in eight" risk often quoted is actually a cumulative lifetime risk if you live to be 85 years of age. The risks break down by age like this:
Age 20 = 1 in 2,500
Age 30 = 1 in 250
Age 40 = 1 in 67
Ages 50 to 60 = 1 in 30
Ages 60 to 70 = 1 in 29

11. If a lump hurts, it’s not breast cancer.
Tenderness associated with a lump, particularly if it’s cyclical in nature, can be a good sign. However, many tumors that are malignant can be tender as well. It is best to have your doctor check out anything suspicious.

Contributor: Linda Jordan, Director of Oncology Services, Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, Indiana