Common myths, facts about breast cancer

There are many myths concerning breast cancer that are incorrect and result in many women not participating in routine breast cancer screening or notifying their health care provider early when there is a problem. We will look at some of the most common myths we encounter and explain the actual facts.

Myth #1 No one in my family has breast cancer. I cannot get breast cancer.

Fact Only a small percentage of the patients we diagnose have a family history of breast cancer. In fact, 75-80 percent of all patients diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.

Myth #2 I do a monthly self-breast examination, and it is normal. I do not need to have a mammogram.

Fact The monthly self-breast examination is an extremely important component of overall breast cancer screening which should start around age 20. This examination is most accurately performed one week after the last menstrual cycle and must be combined with yearly clinical examination by a health care provider and yearly mammograms starting at age 40. Even though the physical examination is normal, the mammogram may be able to find a small growth before it can be felt on the physical examination. However it is important to remember that the breast examination can never replace the mammogram, and the mammogram can never replace the physical examination. Both are important.

Myth #3 I donât have a mammogram because the radiation can cause me to get breast cancer.

Fact There is little evidence that the small amount of radiation given in the mammogram to women older than age 35 causes any increasing risk of developing breast cancer. Dr. Daniel Kopans, a highly regarded mammographer from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, describes the overall theoretical risk of inducing a carcinoma with mammography to be less than one in a million. To put this into perspective, each day we partake in risks that increase our chance of dying by one in a million. Examples include breathing air in Boston or New York City for two days (dying from lung cancer), flying 1,000 miles by jet (dying in an accident), or riding a bicycle 10 miles (dying from an accident). The bottom line is that the benefit of finding a breast cancer greatly outweighs the theoretical risk of developing a cancer from the mammogram.

Myth #4 I feel a lump in my breast, but I just had a mammogram that was ănormal.ä Therefore, I donât need to worry about it.

Fact You must always inform your health care provider if you feel a lump in your breast even if your last mammogram was ănormal.ä This is because the mammogram cannot always see abnormalities that you can feel. In fact, 10-15 percent of all masses felt in the breast can not be seen on the mammogram. This is why a physical examination must be included as part of breast cancer screening along with the mammogram. Any lump felt by you or your health care provider needs to be investigated.

Myth #5 I never heard about my mammogram results. It must be normal.

Fact You should receive a letter in the mail 10-14 days after your mammogram explaining the results of your study. Sometimes the letters are delayed since the doctors are waiting for old mammograms. However, you need to contact your health care provider or the Hollings Mammography Center if you do not receive a notification within three weeks of your exam. Sometimes the letters get lost in the mail or are delivered to the wrong address. The letters will inform you if you need further testing or if everything was OK. Never assume that just because you have not received a letter that the test was normal. You need to be in charge of your own health care and follow up on the results.

Myth #6 I donât need to worry about breast cancer. I am too young.

Fact Breast cancer does not know any age barrier, although the disease is relatively uncommon in the 20s and more common in the 50s and 60s. However, a significant number of breast cancer patients are in their 30s and 40s. Breast cancer is the number one cancer in women and one in eight will be diagnosed with it by age 85. The good news is that when breast cancer is found early, treatment is often extremely effective.

Myth #7 I was diagnosed with breast cancer at another hospital. I cannot go for a second opinion.

Fact You would not buy a car or a TV set without shopping around for the best buy. This holds true for breast cancer treatment. It is OK to get a second option regarding your treatment options for breast cancer. The Hollings Cancer Center is a leader in breast cancer treatment and has a weekly breast cancer conference which discusses the best treatment options for each individual patient. If you have been diagnosed elsewhere and would like a second opinion, or want more information regarding your treatment options, call the Hollings Cancer Center at 792-9300.

Remember breast cancer screening involves three parts: (1) monthly self-breast examinations, (2) yearly clinical breast examinations by a health care provider and (3) yearly mammograms starting at age 40. Please call 792-1999 if you would like further information about breast cancer screening or to schedule a mammogram.