Can You Separate the Myths from the Facts?

Breast cancer strikes more and more women each year – it kills more than a hundred each day. Don’t be one of them: Learn what you can do to protect your breasts and your life. Start by finding out if you can separate the myths from the facts about breast cancer.

Myth
I don’t have to worry about breast cancer because I get a mammogram every year.
Fact
Mammograms are important diagnostic tools, but they do miss 40% of breast cancer in its early stages.
Diagnostics miss 40% of cancers
The Cancer Prevention Diet, Michio Kushi and Alex Jack, 1193, St. Martin’s Griffin, NY.

Myth
No one in my family has had breast cancer, so I’m not likely to get it.
Fact
Seventy-five per cent of breast cancer occurs in women with no family history of the disease.
75 % of cancer occurs in women with no history
100 Questions & Answers About Breast Cancer, Second Edition, Zora K. Brown & Harold P. Freeman,M.D., Jones and Barlett

Myth
Since no one knows exactly what causes breast cancer, there’s not much I can do to prevent it.
Fact
Many factors are known to contribute to breast cancer – such as smoking – are within your control.
BC cause not known, nothing to do to prevent cancer - Alcohol, lifestyle, diet
The Breast Cancer Prevention Diet, Dr. Bob Arnot, Little, Brown and Company, 1998

Myth
Thanks to scientific advancements, breast cancer is less likely than in the past.
Fact
Breast cancer rates have increased by 40% since the 1970s and continue to increase by 2% per year. Though the medical and pharmaceutical industries have spent billions fighting the disease, relatively little money has gone into prevention.
Breast Cancer on the rise
The New Harvard Women’s Guide to Health 2004, Harvard University Press, Karen J. Carlson, M.D.; Stephanie A. Eisenstat, M.D.; Terra Ziporyn, Ph. D.

Billions spent on drugs, little on prevention
The New Harvard Women’s Guide to Health 2004, Harvard University Press, Karen J. Carlson, M.D.; Stephanie A. Eisenstat, M.D.; Terra Ziporyn, Ph. D.

Myth
Even if I do get breast cancer, treatments are safe and effective.
Fact
Chemotherapy and radiation are highly toxic and do not guarantee a cure.
Treatments are safe and effective
Treatments are disfiguring and no cure guaranteed
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer, John R. Lee, M.D. & Virginia Hopkins, Warner Books, 2002

Myth
No one I know is likely to get breast cancer.
Fact
One in 8 women will get breast cancer this year. Of those, some 40,000 women will die from it.

Myth
There’s not much I can do to prevent breast cancer.
Fact
Many of lifestyle choices we make each day can reduce our chances of getting breast cancer.
Nothing to prevention
Dozens of Lifestyle Choices that can Help
Waking The Warrior Goddess, Dr. Christine Horner

Some misconceptions are harmless enough. But when it comes to breast cancer, knowing the truth could save your life. That’s why we encourage you to view the rest of this site. Participate in it by leaving a message, and uploading a message on our signature wall.