Cancer of the breast Awareness Month has come

The month of October was designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Remembering the fallen and advancing with good strides toward prevention and cure is both a personal and national act of healing. The challenge for every person this month should be to become aware of the facts and the myths about cancer of the breast.

Cancer of the breast Awareness Month details

In 2009, 192,370 brand new cases of invasive breast cancer were found in women, reports American Cancer Society. That exact same year women were diagnosed with 62,280 early-stage breast cancer. Of those, more than 40,000 were predicted to result in death. Also, 2,000 men were diagnosed with cancer of the breast last year. Death was a prediction of some of those. About 440 of those were given that diagnosis.

Cancer myths which are typical

• Underwire bras promote breast cancer growth

Breast cancer toxins starting because of the underwire that constricts breast tissue is what most individuals believe with this one. This isn’t true. That is made clear by Dr. Deborah Axelrod who spoke to CBS.

• Deodorant causes breast cancer

This isn’t true either. Dr. Schnabel explains this. There haven’t even been studies that link breast cancer with antiperspirant and cancer.

• Drink from plastic water bottles and get breast cancer

There’s a debate on whether or not a cancer-causing dioxin is leaked to the water by sitting in plastic water bottles, although there is not a consensus. There isn’t a connection between BPA (bisphenol) and cancer of the breast although some believe that it leaks to the water from the plastic also.

• Mammograms cause cancer of the breast

Dr. Schnabel tells Columbia Broadcasting System News the amount of radiation (.1 to .2 rads per picture) released in a mammogram is equal to or less than what a woman’s breasts are exposed to naturally over a three-month period.

• More risk with lumpy breasts

A woman won’t be getting cancer of the breast because of lumpy breasts although it could be more difficult to detect with lumpy breasts. Dr. Axelrod explains that you will need to look for brand new lumps still. If they’re found, a doctor should check out them.

• No history of cancer of the breast makes you safe

While breast cancer can run within the family, studies indicate that 80 percent are sporadic cases.

Citations

American Cancer Society

cancer.org/Research/CancerFactsFigures/BreastCancerFactsFigures/index

CBS News

cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20018296-10391704.html