Breast Cancer Myths Revisited
As with many health problems, the concept of breast cancer is unusually rife with misconceptions. We've already introduced you to eight breast cancer myths in previous articles; here are four more.
Why are breast cancer myths so common? Probably because the disease is a scary one, and strikes one of the more defining features of femininity. In a two-part article we previously posted here, we covered eight common myths about breast cancer -- but those barely scratched the surface of this particular lore.
In the following article, we revisit the subject of breast cancer, and address four more common misconceptions. Some are completely wrong, being based on incorrect or insufficient information, while others are cautionary tales gone out of control.
Myth 1: You only have to worry about breast cancer if it runs in your mother's side of the family.
It would make life a lot easier if this breast cancer myth were true, but unfortunately, it isn't. While there are some sex-linked hereditary conditions, breast cancer isn't one of them. You get your genes equally from either side of your family, so if breast cancer runs in your Dad's family, don't ignore it.
That said, it's much less likely for breast cancer to be expressed in a man, though it does happen. What you need to do is look at the women in your father's family, and see how they fare -- but also keep an eye on the men.
Myth 2: Birth control pills can cause breast cancer.
According to repeated studies, this is just a breast cancer myth; only one combined study has ever showed an increased risk for breast cancer in women who take The Pill, and it was extremely tiny. There's still some question about the statistical significance of the results of this particular study.
The same study showed that the breast cancer risk decreased to almost nothing after ten years. On the other hand, it's well known that the small amounts of female hormones in the typical birth control pill significantly decrease the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, while increasing bone mineral density.
Myth 3: A self examination is the best way to detect breast cancer.
While regular self-examination is very important, it can easily be flubbed if not done just right; and it's simply a breast cancer myth to think it's as effective as a good mammogram. Modern mammograms can detect cancerous cell groupings when they're nearly microscopic, much smaller than any tactile test could detect.
That's not to say that you shouldn't keep doing your self exams; about a quarter of breast cancers are found first during a self examination. Just don't forgo your mammograms altogether in favor of self exams.
Myth 4: Breast injuries can cause cancer.
No, though the medical treatment that comes with a breast injury can result in the discovery of an existing cancer. Since the doctor must examine the breast after the injury, they're much more likely to find a cancer if one exists. Don't let this breast cancer myth keep you from seeking treatment if you've injured yourself.
