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Dr. Kim Mulvihill ReportingSomewhere between one in nine and one in seven women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. That's almost a quarter of a million cases this year alone.
But how much do women really know about this disease? There's a lot of misinformation out there and that can be deadly.
It is the disease many women fear most. But experts say misconceptions about breast cancer cause many women more anxiety than necessary. So let's debunk some of those breast cancer myths.
First up: You only get breast cancer if you have a family history.
Dr. Larry Norton, Oncologist: "Oh no, that's not the case at all. As a matter of fact, 90% of breast cancers occur in people without a family history of the disease. Every woman is at risk of breast cancer, and men too."
Okay. Well, at least you don't have to worry if you're young.
Dr. Larry Norton, Oncologist: "Breast cancer can actually occur in quite young people. It's uncommon before age 25, but even people in the 25 to 50 year bracket can get breast cancer. So any woman with a lump in her breast should be evaluated."
The best way to find early breast cancer is still a mammogram. But some women avoid them because they think they're painful. Experts say tht while a properly done mammogram is often uncomfortable, it should not be painful. And in any case, it's not as painful as advanced cancer.
And speaking of mammograms, another myth is that once you have a normal mammogram, you don't have to worry about breast cancer. Mammograms are not perfect. That's why you have one every year and still check for lumps yourself.
If you get called back for extra views on your mammogram, it doesn't mean cancer. The exposure may have been off, or the radiologist simply wants to get a better look at a different part of the breast.
Other myths: If you do find a lump in your breast, it must be cancer. Or, if the lump is painful, it can't be cancer.
Dr. Larry Norton, Oncologist: "Most lumps actually are not cancer. Just because it's painful, does not mean it's not benign. And just because it's not painful, doesn't mean it's something that doesn't need to be worried about. Everything that's a lump in the breast should be checked."
The take home message is get regular mammograms and get all lumps checked.
