October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. SingHealth HealthXchange helps you to differentiate between what is fact and myth about breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. In 2022, approximately 2.3 million new cases were diagnosed worldwide, with about 666,000 deaths reported globally, making it the leading cause of cancer death in women.
With today’s fast-paced modern lifestyles that include high consumption of processed food, an inactive lifestyle and high stress levels, this number is set to rise.
The SingHealth Duke-NUS Breast Centre, Singapore’s largest centre treating the full spectrum of breast conditions, tackles the top 10 most common misconceptions about breast cancer.
Top 10 misconceptions about breast cancer
Myth 1: Nobody in my family has cancer, so I will not get breast cancer.
Fact: Less than 15% of all breast cancer is passed on genetically. Therefore, the absence of family history does not reduce a person’s risk of developing breast cancer.
Myth 2: Breast cancer only occurs in middle-aged women.
Fact: Breast cancer can affect women of any age. Although breast cancer most commonly affects women between 50-60 years old, it can also occur in women less than 40 years old and the elderly. However, studies have shown that elderly do just as well as younger women if they receive appropriate treatment. Therefore, age alone should not be a barrier to receiving treatment.
Myth 3: Breast cancer risk is directly related to the size of the breast. Therefore, only women with big breasts will get breast cancer.
Fact: Breast size is unrelated to breast cancer risk. Even men can get breast cancer, although it is very rare. So, size does not matter!
Myth 4: If the lump in my breast is painless, it cannot be cancerous.
Fact: Majority of cancerous breast lumps are painless, especially in the early stages. Never ignore any breast lump, no matter how small or painless because early diagnosis and treatment results in the best outcome.
Myth 5: If my breast self-examination is normal, I do not need to go for a screening mammogram.
Fact: A normal breast self-examination does not completely exclude the possibility of one having breast cancer. Currently, mammography is still the most effective way to screen for early breast cancer. Mammograms can detect lesions as small as 0.5 cm (0.2 inches). Most lumps cannot be felt until they are at least 1cm (0.4 inches) in size.
Recommendations for mammogram screening by age
Myth 6: By going for regular mammograms, I can prevent myself from getting breast cancer.
Fact: Mammograms do not prevent breast cancer. Mammograms are tools for detection of early curable breast cancers to increase survival, not a prevention tool for development of breast cancers.
Myth 7: By improving my immune system, I will not get breast cancer.
Fact: Boosting the body’s immune system does not prevent the formation or development of breast cancer cells. There is no known method that can prevent breast cancer or augment the body’s immune system to kill any existing cancer cell or tumour. Nonetheless, it is good to maintain a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and well-balanced diet to reduce risks of other chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Myth 8: I take a lot of health supplements, so I will not get breast cancer.
Fact: It is good to have a healthy, balanced diet, and to take health supplements to complement your dietary requirements of vitamins and minerals. However, there is no known prevention for breast cancer supported by scientific evidence. No single food, vitamin, or health supplement will prevent breast cancer.
