Breast Cancer Myths vs. Facts

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it’s all about promoting screening to reduce your risk. There are 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer worldwide every year. Let’s separate fact from fiction so you can protect yourself from this disease.

MYTH: Most women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of the disease or a genetic mutation.

FACT: Only about 10 to 15 percent are inherited. While having a family history of breast cancer increases your risk, most women diagnosed with breast cancer have no known inherited gene mutations or a significant family history.

MYTH: Only women are diagnosed with breast cancer.

FACT: Although breast cancer overwhelmingly affects women, men can get it.  In 2025, an estimated 2,800 American men will be diagnosed and 510 will die from the disease. Because of this myth, men tend to be under treated, leading to worse outcomes.

MYTH: Only older people get breast cancer.

FACT: Risk for breast cancer does increase with over age 50, but young people get it too.  Over the past five years, breast cancer diagnoses in women under 50 have risen more than two percent each year. Younger women tend to be diagnosed with more aggressive forms, at later stages, and experience worse outcomes.

MTYH: Mammograms aren’t effective.

FACT: Mammograms and other types of screening have saved millions of lives by detecting breast cancer as early. And the earlier you catch it, the more likely medical treatment can cure it. Mammograms are not perfect. Many women have dense breast tissue and mammograms are not as effective for them. But other methods of detecting breast cancer are available in many medical practices. Technology like 3-D mammograms, ultrasound, and breast MRI’s are all effective ways to detect cancer.

MYTH: Breast cancer always shows up as a lump.

FACT: Lumps are the best-known sign of breast cancer – but only 10% turn out to be breast cancer. There are many other signs that might signal breast cancer such as: breast swelling, skin dimpling, a red rash, and more. That said, you should always get a lump checked out for the chance that it could be cancerous.

Myth: Eating sugar causes breast cancer (or any cancer) to grow faster. FACT: The “sugar as toxic” myth never goes away. Sugar does not “feed” cancer. A diet high in added sugar can lead to obesity which can increase the risk of some cancers, including breast cancer as well as worse outcomes after a diagnosis. High added sugar diets might increase inflammation which is a culprit in many diseases including both heart disease and cancers. When it comes to added sugar in our eating, the message stays the same – cut back where you can and enjoy it when you must! Go here for more details on how much you should limit added sugar: Added Sugar Savvy

MYTH: Antiperspirants increase your risk of breast cancer. This is an oldie, but it still seems to persist.  

FACT: This old claim regularly pops up on social media. There is no scientific evidence linking antiperspirants with breast cancer risk. They are just innocent bystanders. With their close location to the breast tissue, some unscientific minds illogically concluded that, because antiperspirants contain aluminum, they could cause breast cancer. But the science does not bear that out. Deodorants do not contain aluminum. So, if this still concerns you, you can use deodorants instead of antiperspirants. But on hot Alabama days, you may want to go back to antiperspirants for their sweat-stopping abilities!

MYTH: Soy foods cause breast cancer.

FACT: Soy foods do contain natural plant estrogens called phytoestrogens. The amount of these phytoestrogens from food sources is most likely not high enough to put you at risk. However, some soy supplements for menopause may contain high, concentrated amounts of phytoestrogens. These supplements may be safe and helpful for some women who are having annoying side effects of menopause. Recommendations for using any type of estrogen – whether from soy supplements or prescription medicines – are dependent on your personal and family medical history. So, I recommend talking to your doctor about what options are right for you.

Remember, you can't always prevent cancer. But catching it as early as possible is a big key to curing it. And of course, you know my usual advice for nutrition and cancer prevention. It’s plant-based eating! You can check out the best and easiest of these at:  U.S. News & World Easiest to Follow Healthy Eating Plans

If you have any questions or comments, just put them in the comments!

See you next Tuesday on Good Day Alabama!

In good health,

Beth