The Fallacies And Myths Of Breast Cancer

Anything that human beings are not familiar with tends be surrounded with information that may or may not be true. This is because theorizations and assumptions automatically take place in order to attempt defining what an unknown thing is.

An example of this is breast cancer; there have been several myths about this disease, and with the passage of time these have been proven false. However, it is interesting to note that few of these assumptions were initially believed.

Thus, continued research helps to expose whether or not assumptions and claims have any firm ground to stand on. Some myths that have developed around breast cancer are mentioned below and are interesting to take note of.

1. It was initially supposed that only older women can get breast cancer. However, this is simply not true as there have been several cases where younger women have developed breast cancer. Indeed, it must be asserted that no matter how young a woman is she can get breast cancer. In fact it is also said that one is never too young to develop breast cancer.
2. Another myth about breast cancer is that if a woman has any one of the risk factors she will develop breast cancer at some point in her life. This too has been proven incorrect because if a woman does have any of the risk factors for breast cancer, it only means that she has a higher chance of developing the disease.
3. It has been though that if no member in one’s family has suffered from breast cancer that there is no reason why a woman should get the disease. This is not true because there are also other risk factors that a woman could be encompassed by. It also should be understood that the more risk factors one happens to come under only means that she has a higher chance of developing breast cancer. Conversely speaking, if one has more of the risk factors but yet no family history of breast cancer it is still possible for her to get breast cancer.
4. Somewhat in sync with the previous point, it was believed that one could only get breast cancer if the maternal members happened to have a history of the disease. This is not true because genetic heredity could cause traits of breast cancer to be passed down the line from maternal or paternal sides of the family.
5. It has also been thought that antiperspirants and underarm deodorants are respo9nsible for breast cancer. This claim has also been inverted, and it is said that this is simply assumption and has no clinical data backing it.
6. It is disputed whether birth control pills actually cause cancer. It is also said that these pills produced sometime ago had cause women to develop slightly higher risks of breast cancer. However, it is now said that contraceptive pills being produced today provide some level of protection against the chances of one developing cancer.
7. It has also been suggested that food containing high levels of fat are responsible for one getting breast cancer. However, experts say that this is not true.
8. Though self-examination has been the best way for one to check for breast cancer every month, it is now said that conducting a monthly mammography is the best way to determine whether one is in the initial stages of breast cancer.
9. It has also been believed that if one is at high risk of developing breast cancer there is nothing one can do about it. However, now it has been established that there is a great deal that one can do about the high risk factors. There are ways of avoiding cancer through avoiding particular consumable foods and drinks. An example of this is the consumption of alcohol, as experts say that an everyday consumption of alcohol causes breast cancer in some women.
10. People often feel that being diagnosed with breast cancer means that it is the end for them. This is not true as 80 % of women pull through the illness, and among those who do not manage to, are able to live for at least five years or more.