Breast Cancer: Myths & Facts

Myth: I have pain in my breast, so I must have breast cancer.

Fact: It is common to have pain in your breast(s) and it could be caused by a number of different things. You should make notes about when you have pain, especially related to your menstrual cycle. Note how long it lasts, and if there is anything that seems to trigger the pain or make it better. Breast pain often resolves on its own, but, if it does not, you should see your healthcare provider. Some common reasons for breast pain are hormonal changes during menstruation, birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, weight gain, fluid retention (swelling), or a poorly fitting bra. There is even some evidence that caffeine can contribute to water retention leading to breast pain. 

Myth: A teenage girl who finds a "lump" must have breast cancer.

Fact: It is unlikely for a teenager to have breast cancer. A lump found in a teenager is usually a fibroadenoma, which is not cancer. These lumps feel hard and round but do not often cause pain. They can be surgically removed if they are bothersome. Any lump should be checked by your healthcare provider. 

Myth: Men do not get breast cancer.

Fact: Breast cancer in men accounts for about 1% of all breast cancer cases (men & women combined) and about 0.2% of all types of cancers in men. Learn more about breast cancer in males. 

Myth: Having a mammogram causes breast cancer or causes an already existing cancer to spread.

Fact: Mammography does not cause breast cancer and it does not cause already known cancer  to spread

Mammography does expose a woman to a low amount of radiation. It is an extremely small amount and is at a level far below any regulatory limits. If you are pregnant, you should tell your healthcare provider before having a mammogram.

Myth: I have breast implants and can't have mammograms.

Fact: Mammography can be done on women who have or have had breast implants. These women should still have screening mammograms according to the National Cancer Institute’s guidelines. A woman with breast implants should tell the center doing her mammogram that she has breast implants. Implants may block some views of the breast, but telling the technologist doing the mammogram that you have breast implants allows special techniques to be used to make sure that as much tissue as possible can be seen on the mammogram. Additional pictures may be taken of the breasts of women with implants, so the test could take a few minutes longer.

In women who have had breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, there is often minimal breast tissue remaining on the side of the mastectomy. Your provider may decide that mammograms are no longer necessary on the breast(s) that were removed.

Myth: Injury to the breast causes cancer.

Fact: Injury to the breast does not cause breast cancer. If the breast is bruised badly, there may be a build up of blood under the skin that can feel like a lump. The body will reabsorb this over time, just as any bruise heals. 

Myth: Antiperspirant and/or deodorant causes breast cancer.

Fact: There have been reports that antiperspirants and deodorants (AP / D) contain chemicals that can be absorbed through small cuts from shaving and cause breast cancer. There have been a few studies looking at this. The first study showed no increased risk of breast cancer in women who used antiperspirant or deodorant with or without shaving the underarm area (they even asked whether an electric razor or regular razor was used). Researchers in the second study examined breast tissue from 20 breast cancer patients and found parabens (a preservative found in cosmetics and AP / D that acts like estrogen in the body) in that tissue. These researchers did not look at healthy breast tissue or tissue from other parts of the body to check for parabens, so we do not know if all tissues contain parabens. The researchers also did not prove that the parabens they found came from AP or D (since so many products contain parabens). They also did not prove that parabens cause breast cancer.

One other study surveyed women with breast cancer. They found that those who started using AP / D products at younger ages and used them more frequently were diagnosed with breast cancer at an earlier age. This study did not include any women without breast cancer, which makes it impossible to apply the results to everyone.

At this point, more research is needed to be able to say anything conclusive about breast cancer and the use of AP / D products. Parabens are a group of preservatives, used to prevent bacterial growth, and are found in many things, including cosmetics, food and beverages. If you want to avoid parabens, check the ingredient list for any of the following: methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, parahydroxybenzoate or parahydroxybenzoate and find products that do not contain them.

Myth: Biopsies and air cause breast cancer to spread.

Fact: Biopsies and/or air can not cause breast cancer to spread. The fear of biopsies comes from the concern that sticking a needle into a breast tumor to get a sample or using a scalpel to remove the whole tumor can move some of those cells to a different place in the breast (by the cells sticking to the needle or dropping cells from the tumor into other places). Studies have not found this to be true for breast cancer biopsies (but it can happen with ovarian cancers). Some people believe that exposing cancer to air during surgery or biopsy can cause cancer to spread, this too, has not been proven.

Myth: If you don't have a family history of breast cancer, you are not at risk.

Only 5-10% of breast cancer diagnoses happen in someone with a family history. Most cases occur in people with no family history. This is why screening is an important tool to find breast cancer cases early when they are most treatable.

Myth: Women get breast cancer because of something they did, because they kept their emotions inside, or had low self-esteem.

Fact: A group of researchers in Australia did a study on this topic. They found no increased risk of breast cancer in any of the personality traits they studied. These included mature or immature behavior, neurotic behavior, emotional expression (keeping them in or letting them out), emotional control, self-esteem, anxiety, or depression.

Learn More About Breast Cancer Myths & Facts From These Sites

BreastCancer.org - Breast cancer myths versus facts

National Breast Cancer Foundation - Breast cancer myths

National Breast Cancer Coalition - 22 Myths & Truths