The month of October is special for many reasons: it’s Halloween season, it’s littered with college midterms, and it’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Worldwide, breast cancer is the second most pervasive form of cancer across genders, and each year over one million people are diagnosed. With that being said, there is a lot of information floating around about breast cancer, and not all of it is actually true.
Myth 1: Breast Cancer Only Affects Women
Breast cancer is actually super indiscriminant in who's lives it affects, so all genders could potentially be affected. While it is true that men only make up about one percent of breast cancer victims, that number is still significant. Each year approximately 2,000 men are diagnosed with breast cancer, and roughly 400 of these cases are fatal.
Myth 2: Wearing Underwire Bras Increase One's Chances of Getting Breast Cancer
A common claim is that because of the pressure the underwire in these types of bras puts on your breasts' lymphatic system, your breasts become more vulnerable to toxin accumulation. The truth is, there have been numerous scientific studies on this very issue, and there is no scientific evidence to date that supports this claim. So basically, wear whatever bra you want. Or don't wear a bra. You just do you.
Myth 3: The Bigger Your Boobs, The More Likely You Are To Get Breast Cancer
There is literally no connection between breast size and breast cancer.
Myth 4: Any Lump Found On Your Breast Is Cancerous
If you find a lump on your breast during a self-examination, definitely get it checked out as soon as possible, but eight out of ten times, lumps discovered on the breast are the result of benign cysts or other non-cancer-related bodily changes.
Myth 5: Breast Implants Increase Breast Cancer Risk
Again, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. The only difference is that folks with implants often need additional tests performed during breast examinations because standard mammograms aren't always sufficient.
Myth 6: Coming From A Family History Of Breast Cancer Guarantees You Will Also Be Diagnosed
There is a higher risk associated with individuals who come from a family line who were diagnosed with breast cancer before age fifty, but that is by no means an assurance of your own diagnosis. In actuality, nine out of ten individuals diagnosed with breast cancer do not come from a family history associated with the disease.
Myth 7: Having An Abortion Increases Risk Of Diagnosis
The common mindset here is that due to the hormonal impacts of an abortion, it would increase your risk of getting breast cancer. However, as in many cases previously, much research has been done on this topic, and there is no scientific evidence to make this link at all credible.
Myth 8: Caffeine Consumption Increases Breast Cancer Risk
Luckily for all the college students going through midterms right now, there is no scientific evidence backing up this claim. In fact, there are actually tentative studies finding the opposite to be the case.
Myth 9: Breast Cancer Risk Factors Are Unavoidable
Key ways to lower your risk of getting breast cancer include regular exercise, healthy diets, consuming alcohol in moderation, and just in general taking care of your body and knowing it well.
Myth 10: Breast Cancer Is A Preventable Disease
While you can reduce your risk factors, you cannot actually prevent the disease. Unfortunately, breast cancer continues to affect millions of people worldwide, and roughly seven out of ten of these individuals did not exhibit risk factors for the disease.
TL;DR
Breast Cancer Awareness Month means more than just wearing pink for half of October - it's a really important time for us all to check in and make sure we understand our bodies and the potential risks associated with them.
