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Myth or Truth

#1 The Myth Is Finding a lump in your breast means you have breast cancer.

FALSE... and the truth is If you discover a persistent lump in your breast or any changes in breast tissue, it is very important that you see a physician immediately.

However, 8 out of 10 breast lumps are benign, or not cancerous. Sometimes women stay away from medical care because they fear what they might find. Take charge of your health by performing routine self breast exams, establishing ongoing communication with your doctor, and scheduling regular mammograms.

#2 It is a Myth that wearing a bra (during sleep or at any time) increases the risk of breast cancer.

FALSE...and the trust is here are NO DATA from scientifically sound studies that show any increase in the risk of developing breast cancer from wearing a bra.

This myth may have started with a general observation that breast cancer is more common in Western, industrialized countries where wearing bras is more common than in the developing world.

However, to then draw the conclusion that it is the bra-wearing that causes the breast cancer is completely erroneous. Women in developing countries have shorter life spans during which to develop breast cancer and do not undergo breast-cancer screening. It is probably for these reasons that their chances of being diagnosed with breast cancer are lower, not because they are less likely to wear bras.

Bottom line: If wearing a supportive bra to bed allows you to sleep more comfortably, you can do so without worrying about any health risks.

#3 If you have a family history of breast cancer, you are likely to develop breast cancer, too.

FALSE- While women who have a family history of breast cancer are in a slightly higher risk group, then women who have no family history.

  • If you have a mother, daughter, or sister who developed breast cancer below the age of 50, you should consider some form of regular diagnostic breast imaging starting 10 years before the age of your relative’s diagnosis.
  • If you have had a grandmother or aunt who was diagnosed with breast cancer, your risk increases slightly, but it is not in the same risk category as those who have a first generation relative with breast cancer.
  • If you have multiple generations diagnosed with breast cancer on the same side of the family, or if there are several individuals who are first generation relatives to one another, or several family members diagnosed under age 50, the probability increases that there is a breast cancer gene contributing to the cause of this family history.

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