As you may have noticed this month newsletters have been all about Breast Cancer tips, and health.  It’s very important to be aware of symptoms, signs and possible causes of breast cancer.  But it’s equally important not to have the right information about breast cancer and not surround our mind and thoughts with information that could be untrue.  So to help you with that, I would like to discuss a few of the myths out there regarding breast cancer and hopefully provide you with some relief and/or good solid information so that you can be in control.  When you have the correct knowledge, you’ll have the power you need to take control of your health.

Myth #1:  If I have a lump in my breast, I must have cancer.  This myth is absolutely not true.  In fact, most lumps are not cancer.  Only about two out of every 10 lumps turns out to be cancerous.  The remaining 80% turn out to be benign masses.  Benign means noncancerous.

Myth #2:  Getting a mammogram can actually cause cancer to develop.  If you’re experiencing cancer symptoms or if you’re over the age of 40, you should have mammograms.  While this does expose you to radiation from the screening, it’s not enough to cause symptoms and cancer to progress.

In fact, the mammogram is one of the best tests than can be used to determine whether or not you have a growth in your breasts.  And if symptoms and cancer are detected early, you’ll have a better chance of full recovery and remission.

Myth #4: A mammogram will hurt.  Another common myth is that the mammogram is a painful test.  This comes from the idea that the machine squeezes the breast tissue.  While the machine does press the breast as flat as possible, most people only experience mild discomfort.

Myth #5: Men can’t get breast cancer.  While men are not as likely to get breast cancer as women, it’s still a possibility.  Men have the same type of breast tissue in their chest as women and given the right genetics and environmental facts, men can develop breast cancer.

Myth #6: If your mom had breast cancer, you’ll definitely have it.  While a family history of breast cancer can make it more likely for you to have it, it’s not a certainty.  Make sure to have regular screenings for early detection, but you don’t need to live in fear about cancer.

Myth #7:  Antiperspirant, deodorants, and underwire bras can cause cancer.  This is another common myth that spread through the internet.  There’s been no research linking breast cancer to any of these products.  Rather it’s about genetics and lifestyle choices.

Myth #8: There’s nothing I can do to prevent breast cancer.  Living a healthy lifestyle can actually help decrease your risk of breast cancer.    Getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, avoiding too much alcohol, and avoiding tobacco products can help prevent symptoms and cancer.

If you have any additional questions please feel free to post them below or email me at assistant@4healthysouls.com.

Are you noticing changes in your breast tissue that might be cancer symptoms? Many women experience signs and symptoms of cancer in their breasts. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer. Signs and symptoms are simply things that occur that could be an indicator of something more serious being wrong. However, symptoms alone aren’t enough to reach a diagnosis of breast cancer.

Many women notice changes in their breast tissue such as lumpiness, dimpling of the skin, and tenderness. Discharge from the nipples or changes in the color and texture of the skin of the nipple and/or areola can also indicate breast cancer.  However, almost all lumps that are found in breast tissue are found to be benign. Benign means that you have a lump that isn’t cancerous and won’t spread to other tissues. Approximately eight out of ten lumps that women find are actually benign.  For the 20% of tumors that do turn out to be cancer, it’s critical that you get early treatment for the best prognosis. With early treatment many breast cancers can be cured and you can stop them from spreading to other parts of the body.

If you’re experiencing breast cancer symptoms, it’s critical that you seek health care immediately. You’ll want to make the first available appointment with your doctor. You can see a general practitioner or a gynecologist. They will be your first stop in early detection.  Your healthcare provider will perform an examination. If he or she agrees that your symptoms are suspect, you may be asked to take more tests. Your doctor will probably prescribe a mammogram to look for thickening of the tissue or for lumps.  You may also be asked to get a sonogram. This is a test that helps to determine the size, shape, and makeup of the lump. A sonogram can frequently tell whether the lump is fluid-filled or a solid mass.

If you have a positive mammogram or sonogram, you’ll need to have a biopsy. This test will help to determine what type of cells is making up the mass. You may also need a CT scan to look for details of the mass.  In addition, you may need a biopsy of your lymph nodes to help detect whether or not cancer has spread from the breast tissue. With all of this information, your healthcare provider will be able to determine if your cancer symptoms really are indicating cancer or you have another condition.

If you’re a health conscious woman, cancer of the breast is probably something you are aware of and want to prevent. And while there are certain aspects of breast cancer over which you have no control, there are some things you can do to prevent it.

A healthy diet is one way you can lower your risk of developing breast cancer. You’ll need to eat a balanced diet that contains lots of fruits and vegetables. This is one way to pump up your immune system and help to prevent cancer cells from being able to develop.  You’ll also want to watch your intake of saturated fat. A diet high in fat can cause your body to produce excess estrogen. Estrogen is known to increase the growth of breast cancer tumors. If you’re predisposed to breast cancer, a high fat diet can increase your risk.

A high level of alcohol use has also been shown to increase risk of cancer of the breast for women. In this case, high level of use is defined as drinking more than 1-2 alcoholic beverages every day. So if you want to prevent breast cancer, you’ll want to limit alcohol.  Exercise is another way you can lower your risk of cancer of the breast. It’s amazing to know that physical activity actually helps to strengthen your immune system and it lowers your levels of estrogen. Both of these factors combined means you’ll have a lower risk of breast cancer if you get more physical activity. The recommended amount of physical activity for lowering breast cancer risk is four hours each week. You can break up that exercise any way you want.

Smoking tobacco products is also not recommended for those who want to prevent breast cancer. While there hasn’t been a direct link found between breast cancer and smoking, we do know that smoking causes a wide array of health problems.  The health problems caused by smoking can make it difficult for your immune system to function properly. If you’re at risk for developing breast cancer, your body will have a harder time fighting off the cancer and withstanding cancer treatments should you need them.  It’s a good idea to avoid tobacco products if you want to have optimum health – whether you’re concerned about breast cancer or not. While you can’t control your family history or genetic predisposition for cancer of the breast, it can be preventable in many cases by leading a healthy lifestyle.