There are many misconceptions and myths associated with breast cancer. This article intends to remove some of the common myths associated with different aspects of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Development Myths:

If 8 women are randomly selected, then 1 of those 8 women is guaranteed to get breast cancer is the description of the statistic “1 in 8.”

• Breast cancer is mainly a genetic disease.
• Breast cancer is caused by underwire bras
• Antiperspirants area leading cause of breast cancer
• Breast cancer is caused by an injury to the breast
• Breast cancer occur only to women
• Breast cancer is caused by breast-feeding
• Women with small breasts can not get breast cancer
• Breast cancer risk exist only to the women who have a family history of breast cancer
• Breast cancer is indicated by nipple discharge
• All breast lumps are cancerous
• All of the women who are diagnosed with Lobular Carcinoma In Situ will get breast cancer
• Younger women are more likely to get breast cancer than older women
• A woman’s risk of developing breast cancer increases due to fibrocystic changes
• Lumpy breasts of a woman is a high risk of breast cancer
• Breast cancer is caused by birth control pills
• Breast cancer is caused by dry cleaning services, lawn chemicals, and/or pesticides
• Breast cancer is contagious
• Drinking coffee increases a woman’s breast cancer risk

Breast Cancer Screening/Detection Myths:

• Breast cancer self-examination (BSE) can be best practiced in the shower
• Breast cancer is prevented by a mammogram
• Lump will always be the indication of breast cancer
• A painless breast lump represents its not being cancerous
• Breast cancer is caused by a mammogram
• Early breast cancer detection can be 100% accurately done through a mammography
• A curable cancer will always be found by a mammography

Breast Cancer Treatment and After Care Myths:

• Those women should not get pregnant who have had breast cancer in the past
• A woman will lose her breast if she is diagnosed with breast cancer
• Full treatment is not required by older women
• Mastectomy ensures that breast cancer will be removed forever
• A woman’s hair fall out due to chemotherapy
• Breast cancer will not be developed by women who have prophylactic or preventive mastectomy