Breast Cancer Myths Exposed

Successful diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, as with any disease, rely on patients receiving accurate information in a timely manner. Unfortunately, that is not the case for many women.

“Often the first appointment with a new patient is devoted to dispelling myths,” says Xuan Luu, MD, a breast surgeon at Good Samaritan Medical Center. “There is usually a well-meaning relative who shared an article on social media or the patient is in a panic over tabloid reports. These myths and half-truths around breast health can impede the process of getting a patient the care they need.”

Dr. Luu shares the following most common myths she encounters daily, and offers explanations to each one.

Myth: If It’s a Lump, It’s Cancer!
The texture and landscape of the breast will vary from woman to woman, and some breasts are “lumpy” feeling, but this bumpy tissue is normal and very different from a traditional lump that may develop – and neither is necessarily indicative of breast cancer. While the development of a lump is often what will alert us to a change in breast health, the lump itself may be the symptom of a benign condition, and breast cancer can present without the detection of a lump at all.

Women should report any changes to the breast, including pain in the breast or nipple, irritation, swelling, dimpling, thickening of the skin, redness, discharge other than breast milk, scaliness, or the turning in of the nipple. Breast cancer can also begin to swell in underarm lymph nodes before a tumor is felt. In addition, a mammogram may pick up breast cancer that has no outward symptoms at all.

Myth: Antiperspirant Causes Cancer
Simply put, no, it does not. There are no conclusive studies in medical journals that link breast cancer to antiperspirant use, and very little scientific evidence to support this claim. In response to this particular myth, a study was conducted and researchers found no link between breast cancer risk and the use of antiperspirants or deodorants.

It is possible this myth began because of the trace amounts of aluminum and parabens found in many products. However, aluminum is not absorbed through the skin, and while some parabens have been found in cancerous cells, they have not been shown to be a cause of cancer. Further studies indicate that 99 percent of the U.S. population show some form of a paraben in tested urine.

Myth: Cancer Likes Big Breasts
Cancer has no preference when it comes to breast size, which is evident when men are diagnosed. All breasts are candidates and risk does not increase with size. Larger breasts can be harder to examine, but all women need to conduct self-exams, schedule routine screenings, and discuss all breast changes during visits with both their primary care physician and OB/GYN.

Myth: Radiation in Mammograms Cause Cancer
While it is true that radiation is used in mammography, the amount is so small that any associated risks are tiny when compared to the huge preventive benefits reaped from the test. Mammograms can detect lumps well before they can be felt or otherwise noticed, and the earlier that lumps are caught, the better one's chances for survival.

“A diagnosis of breast cancer can be devastating to any woman, and she will have many questions and concerns ranging from How? and Why? to What Now?,” continues Dr. Luu. “I find it helpful to my patients for me to address every concern – no matter how unfounded in fact they may be – so we can move on to the heart of the matter, which is getting her on a path to treatment and recovery.”

Good Samaritan Medical Center’s Women’s Imaging Center, located in North Easton, Massachusetts, offers women an easily accessible facility utilizing innovative mammography and ultrasound technologies, including 3-D tomosynthesis, sterotactic biopsy, ultrasound-guided biopsy, and bone density scans to provide the full spectrum of imaging services.

Every October the Women’s Imaging Center recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a series of Treat Yourself Well Evenings designed to encourage routine mammogram screening in a relaxing and pampering environment. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, please call 508-427-2850.

*Source: American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/