Myths unfolded for breasts cancer
There have been tremendous advancements in the detection, management, and treatment of breast cancer, misinformation and misconceptions are everyplace, so it is important to break those myths and know the facts.
According to the rearmost statistics from the WHO,2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the year 2020. Also, it is estimated that breast cancer is impacting over two million women each year. October is observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month to raise mindfulness about the impact of breast cancer. While the circumstance of breast cancer rates is advanced in developed regions of the world, trends reveal an upward trajectory in breast cancer rates in developing and underdeveloped geographies. Still, there have been tremendous advancements in the detection, management, and treatment of breast cancer, misinformation and misconceptions are everyplace, so it is important to break those myths and know the data.
- MYTH: People with no family history of breast cancer, do not get it.
- FACT: Family history of cancer may be important while determining the chances of breast cancer, still, breast cancer does do in people with no family history of cancer.
It's a common belief that bone cancer is an inherited disease. Still, it has been observed that only about five to ten of breast cancers are heritable. A vast majority of people who have breast cancer have no family history which is reflective of the fact that there are colourful factors as well, that contributes towards the development of breast malignancies. With adding old, healthy breast cells can develop mutations on their own, eventually developing into cancerous cells.
Still, if someone in the family has breast cancer, it is an important threat factor that must be taken into account while screening for breast cancer.
- MYTH: Breast cancer affects only older women.
- FACT: Younger women too can develop bone cancer, indeed men.
Although breast cancer is prevalent among women over the age of fifty. It can occur at any age and occur in men too, although it is extremely rare, it does happen. Males also contain breast tissue and if they experienced any growth or lump-suchlike appearance in their chest area they must consult with a medical expert.
- MYTH: Healthy weight, nutritional diet, regular exercise, and limiting alcohol can keep breast cancer at bay.
- FACT: Although these behaviours can help lower breast cancer danger, they can not eliminate it.
Factors responsible for breast cancer are outside our control and are nowhere related to a healthy lifestyle or diet. Although evidence exists that a healthy lifestyle encompassing a nutritional diet, regular exercise, and limited alcohol intake can help reduce breast cancer danger, they do not guarantee freedom from breast cancer. Occasionally after doing everything right people frequently succumb to breast cancer.
- MYTH: Breast cancer always causes a lump you can feel.
- FACT: Breast cancer might not cause a lump, especially when it first develops.
Utmost people believe that breast cancer always causes a lump or a tumour that can be felt during a breast self-examination. Still, breast cancer doesn't inescapably, always cause a lump or perceivable clustering of tissues when in the original stages. Occasionally cancer may affect the lymph nodes of the breast and can not be felt in the form of lumps.
Also, it must be easily understood that any lump be it smooth or hard, portable or fixed, that can be felt through the skin needs to be checked out by a healthcare professional. Utmost of the lumps are benign (not cancerous), still, there's always a possibility that breast cancer may strike.
- MYTH: Self-breast examination is sufficient to find breast cancer early.
- FACT: Although the self-breast examination is an important way to monitor changes in the bone, Mammography is the best early- detection tool that's available currently.
Breast self-examination is good practice to monitor changes in the breast, however, for women above the age of forty, it is largely recommended to get annual mammography screening done to detect cancer early when it is still within the duct which is called DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ).
Generally on mammograms DCIS if detected it looks like a small cluster of calcifications with irregular shapes and sizes. Digital mammography systems enable the identification of micro-calcifications with high-quality images and hence improve the chances of early detection of breast cancer. But it is important to pay attention to any changes in breasts by performing monthly breast self-exams and having a physical examination of your breasts by a health professional every year.
- MYTH: Breast cancer can not be treated.
- FACT: Metastatic breast cancer can’t be cured, but it can be treated.
How the body performs with metastatic cancer relies on various factors including age, health, other conditions, and access to medical care. But about one-third of the people with this diagnosis have lived with it for a considerable duration of time. Various methods like radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, etc. are recommended based on the severity of cancer.
SOURCE
https://thedailyguardian.com/breaking-the-myths-around-breast-cancer/