Breast Cancer Awareness Month is in October each year and the hope is that by focusing on breast cancer, we can raise the awareness of both women and men. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the risk rises as they get older.
We here at Gage would like to acknowledge the work that all mammographers do and to say "thank you". Visit our site during the month of October and get 10% off any breast course.
Here are some breast cancer myths:
- Myth: Breast cancer only affects women --
- Truth: Many people don't realize that men can also get breast cancer. There are over 2,000 cases diagnosed in men every year.
- Myth: If you find a lump in your breast, it must be breast cancer --
- Truth: if you discover a persistent lump in your breast that is new or notice any changes in breast tissue, it should never be ignored. You should visit your physician so he or she can perform a clinical breast exam and/or order imaging studies to determine whether the lump is of concern.
- Myth: Antiperspirants cause breast cancer --
- Truth: Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) are not aware of any conclusive evidence linking the use of underarm antiperspirants or deodorants and the subsequent development of breast cancer.
- Myth: If it is found that you have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation in your DNA, you will definitely develop breast cancer --
- Truth: According to the National Cancer Institute, “not every woman in such families carries a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, and not every cancer in such families is linked to a harmful mutation in one of these genes. Furthermore, not every woman who has a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation will develop breast and/or ovarian cancer. But, a woman who has inherited a harmful mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 is about five times more likely to develop breast cancer than a woman who does not have such a mutation.”