Breast Cancer: Myth vs. Fact
View All Section Pages
Wondering when to start annual mammograms or if breast cancer is preventable? Don’t let yourself become a victim of breast cancer myths. Misconceptions of breast health can oftentimes cause women more anxiety than necessary. Cooper Clinic dispels five common breast cancer myths.
Myth 1: Only women with a family history of breast cancer are at risk.
Fact: According to the American Cancer Society, more than 85 percent of women who get breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease. The truth is that only two percent of women with breast cancer actually have the inherited breast cancer (BRCA) gene. When it comes to risk factors, the biggest one of all might not come as a surprise: being female. Our risk also increases as we age.
Myth 2: I don’t need a mammogram until I’m 50.
Fact: Mammograms are the best screening test for early detection of breast cancer. Screening mammograms have been shown to lower mortality in breast cancer by 30 percent. Cooper Clinic recommends a baseline mammogram at age 35 and annually beginning at age 40. If you have a relative who has been diagnosed with breast cancer prior to menopause, you should start getting a mammogram approximately ten years before they were diagnosed.
Myth 3: Monthly self exams are not necessary.
Fact: Beginning in your 20s, you should perform monthly self exams. By performing these monthly exams you may detect an abnormality before your mammogram is due. The best time to examine your breast is the week after your menstrual cycle. Ask your physician how to examine your breasts.
Myth 4: Breast cancer is always in the form of a lump.
Fact: While breast cancer may appear as a lump, very often a lump is a non-cancerous cyst. Cysts and cancerous tumors may easily be distinguished with breast ultrasound. Other physical changes to look for during your self exam are skin thickening, dimpling or redness and also changes in the nipple including an inverted nipple or scaly-like skin around the nipple.
Myth 5: Breast cancer is completely preventable.
Fact: While this statement is not true, there are ways you can lower the risk of breast cancer. It’s best to keep a low-fat diet, get regular exercise, limit alcohol intake and get screening mammograms. Getting a regular mammogram is the best way for women to find breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable. Consider mammograms in the same light as teeth cleaning and pap smears. Get into the habit of scheduling them annually.
Cooper Clinic provides women the specialized and comprehensive preventive care needed for breast cancer screening and diagnosis. Cooper Clinic patients can schedule breast imaging the day of their comprehensive physical exam.
To schedule a comprehensive physical exam call 972.560.2651 or click here.