Sometimes we embrace myths about breast cancer rather than deal with the realities of the disease. Unfortunately myths can paralyze us and put us in danger.
Here are the Myths and the Facts About Breast Cancer:
1. Breast Cancer Doesn’t Run in My Family
Eighty to eighty-five percent of women with breast cancer have no 
family history of the disease. Even if no one in your family has ever been diagnosed, don’t use this excuse for ignoring your yearly mammogram.
family history of the disease. Even if no one in your family has ever been diagnosed, don’t use this excuse for ignoring your yearly mammogram.2. I’m Too Young for Breast Cancer.
Breast cancer can affect women of any age. While the disease is more common in post-menopausal women, 25 percent of women with breast cancer are younger than 50.
3. Breast Cancer Is a Death Sentence
When caught early, up to 98 percent of women survive at least five years. Breast cancer that has metastasized, or spread to other parts of the body, poses the greatest concern, but women with metastatic breast cancer often live for years with metastatic disease.
4.I Have Five Years Survival, So My Breast Cancer Won’t Return.
Breast cancer can recur at any time, but it is more likely to happen within the first five to 10 years.
5. Chemo Makes You Vomit All the Time
Chemotherapy does cause nausea and vomiting. But in the last 10 years, new drugs have become available and very few people have persistent nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.
6. All Breast Lumps Are Cancerous
Most breast lumps are not cancer. They could be cysts or a benign condition called fibrocystic changes or fibroadenoma. All lumps should be checked thoroughly by a doctor.
7. Herbal Remedies and Dietary Supplements Can Help Treat Breast Cancer.
No herbal remedy, dietary supplement or alternative therapy has been scientifically proven to treat breast cancer. Doctors do not know how these alternative medicines may interact with traditional therapies.
8. My Breast Lump is Painful, So it Must not be Cancer
Not true; there’s no correlation between whether the lump is painful and whether it’s cancerous. Any lump needs to be checked by a doctor.
9. If Cancer is Exposed to Air During Surgery, It Will Spread.
Surgery will not cause the cancer to spread. The only thing that will promote cancer’s spread is a delay in diagnosis and failure to treat the cancer.
10. Radiation Therapy is Dangerous and Will Burn my Heart, Ribs and Lungs.
Radiation used today is safe and minimizes exposure to the heart, ribs and lungs.
Breast cancer can affect women of any age. While the disease is more common in post-menopausal women, 25 percent of women with breast cancer are younger than 50.
3. Breast Cancer Is a Death Sentence
When caught early, up to 98 percent of women survive at least five years. Breast cancer that has metastasized, or spread to other parts of the body, poses the greatest concern, but women with metastatic breast cancer often live for years with metastatic disease.
4.I Have Five Years Survival, So My Breast Cancer Won’t Return.
Breast cancer can recur at any time, but it is more likely to happen within the first five to 10 years.
5. Chemo Makes You Vomit All the Time
Chemotherapy does cause nausea and vomiting. But in the last 10 years, new drugs have become available and very few people have persistent nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.
6. All Breast Lumps Are Cancerous
Most breast lumps are not cancer. They could be cysts or a benign condition called fibrocystic changes or fibroadenoma. All lumps should be checked thoroughly by a doctor.
7. Herbal Remedies and Dietary Supplements Can Help Treat Breast Cancer.
No herbal remedy, dietary supplement or alternative therapy has been scientifically proven to treat breast cancer. Doctors do not know how these alternative medicines may interact with traditional therapies.
8. My Breast Lump is Painful, So it Must not be Cancer
Not true; there’s no correlation between whether the lump is painful and whether it’s cancerous. Any lump needs to be checked by a doctor.
9. If Cancer is Exposed to Air During Surgery, It Will Spread.
Surgery will not cause the cancer to spread. The only thing that will promote cancer’s spread is a delay in diagnosis and failure to treat the cancer.
10. Radiation Therapy is Dangerous and Will Burn my Heart, Ribs and Lungs.
Radiation used today is safe and minimizes exposure to the heart, ribs and lungs.
