In 2020, 685,000 people died from breast cancer, and 2.3 million received a diagnosis. It reported: “As of the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer.” Its prevalence might help explain why there is a […]
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Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It happens when blood sugar levels rise due to problems with the use or production of insulin. It can appear at any age, but it is more likely to occur after the age of 45 years. It affects over 30 million Americans, according to the […]
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In 2020, 685,000 people died from breast cancer, and 2.3 million received a diagnosis. It reported: “As of the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer.” Its prevalence might help explain why there is a […]
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Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It happens when blood sugar levels rise due to problems with the use or production of insulin. It can appear at any age, but it is more likely to occur after the age of 45 years. It affects over 30 million Americans, according to the […]
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In 2020, 685,000 people died from breast cancer, and 2.3 million received a diagnosis. It reported:
“As of the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer.”
Its prevalence might help explain why there is a wide range of myths attached to it. Here, we will tackle 15 of the most common misunderstandings.
To help us reach the truth, we enlisted the help of three experts:
Dr. Michael Zeidman: an assistant professor of breast surgery at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.
Dr. Crystal Fancher: a surgical breast oncologist at the Margie Petersen Breast Center at Providence Saint John’s Health Center and assistant professor of surgery at the Saint John’s Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, CA.
Dr. Richard Reitherman, Ph.D.: the medical director of breast imaging at MemorialCare Breast Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA.
1. A breast injury can cause breast cancer
“Injury to the breast cannot cause breast cancer,” explained Dr. Zeidman, “however, it can cause changes in the breast that may mimic breast cancer on imaging.”
“This process is called ‘fat necrosis,” he continued, “and it can look like an irregular mass with jagged edges on a mammogram, much like the appearance of a new breast cancer. The best way to distinguish cancer from fat necrosis is with a needle biopsy.”
2. Underwire bras increase the risk of breast cancer
Although underwire bras do not increase breast cancer risk, Dr. Zeidman always recommends bras without a wire. He explains:
“The wire can irritate the skin under the breast, which can lead to skin breakdown. This breakdown may allow bacteria to enter the breast causing infection, [an] abscess, [or both].”
3. IVF increases the risk of breast cancer
As part of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure, doctors often prescribe drugs that stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs. These drugs mimic the activity of estrogen.
Because of this, some experts wondered whether they might encourage the growth of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. As the name suggests, these cancer cells have estrogen receptors on their membranes.
“While there are no randomized controlled trials looking to answer this question,” explained Dr. Zeidman, “a recent meta-analysis of all observational studies over the past 30 years concluded that there is no increase in breast cancer risk for women who received ovarian stimulation drugs compared with the general population.”
4. No one in my family had breast cancer, so I won’t develop it
This is a myth that Dr. Zeidman is familiar with, he told Medical News Today: “It is very common for [people] with a new breast cancer diagnosis to tell me how shocked they are considering that they have no family history.”
“I then respond by stating that the vast majority of [people who] I see with a new breast cancer have no risk factors. In fact, the most significant risk factor for developing breast cancer is being a woman. In the United States, 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer over their lifetime.”
As Dr. Fancher explained to us, “only about 5–10% of breast cancers are caused by a genetic mutation that is passed between family members. This means that the majority of breast cancers are sporadic or have no hereditary cause.”
Because family history is only one factor in the risk of breast cancer, screening is important. As Dr. Reitherman explained:
“The message is that every woman starting at 40 years of age should have a yearly mammogram regardless of a family history of breast cancer. Those women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer should be evaluated by a genetics counselor by the age of 30. This group of women may need to begin breast cancer screening prior to the age of 40.”
Dr. Zeidman takes the opportunity to stress the importance of checkups:
“If you are a woman and at least 40 years old, please get your screening mammograms!”
5. Being stressed can cause breast cancer
With the ever-present stresses of modern life, it is no surprise that people are concerned about how stress might impact health.
However, as Dr. Zeidman told us, “There is absolutely no evidence to support a link between stress and breast cancer. In fact, there is evidence to support that stress does not increase breast cancer risk.”
That is not to say that stress cannot impact health at all, however. He goes on: “Part of being human is finding effective ways to deal with the stress we all will inevitably face. This can have profound health benefits both mentally and physically, but will do nothing to mitigate breast cancer risk.”
6. A healthy lifestyle eliminates breast cancer risk
“While it is true that postmenopausal women who are overweight are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer, there is nothing that a woman can do to eliminate breast cancer risk,” explained Dr. Zeidman.
“Even women who undergo bilateral mastectomy are still at risk of developing a new breast cancer.”
However, he is not suggesting anyone starts “smoking and eating fast food every day.”
More generally, he believes that “it is of the utmost importance to take care of your body because you only get one. But even world class athletes have been diagnosed with breast cancer.”
7. Breast cancer only happens to older adults
“While it is true that breast cancer risk increases as women age, and the average age of a new breast cancer diagnosis is 61 years, breast cancer can occur much earlier,” Dr. Zeidman told MNT.
“About 5% of new breast cancer diagnoses are in women under the age of 40 years. There, unfortunately, have been reports of women in their early 20s and even teens who were diagnosed. There is typically a strong family history in these young women.”
“If you have a significant lifetime breast cancer risk based on a strong family history, then you may qualify for genetic testing and early screening starting at age 25.”
Dr. Fancher explains that, although breast cancer is rarer in younger people, she encourages people to “bring any concerning findings in your breast to your doctor’s attention and follow their recommended screening guidelines.”
8. All lumps in the breast signal breast cancer
This is a myth — not all lumps in the breast are cancer. Dr. Zeidman explained that the majority
“of new breast lumps are benign. And, if you had a recent mammogram that was normal, then that percentage is likely even higher.”
However, Dr. Zeidman made it clear that any new lump should be “evaluated by a healthcare professional.”
9. Having an abortion increases the risk of breast cancer
“The reason this question comes up is because we know that breast cancer risk is directly related to estrogen exposure,” Dr. Zeidman told us, “and abortion interrupts the normal hormonal cycle of pregnancy.”
“While we can never perform a randomized controlled trial to address this question, there was a very large observational study
in Denmark that included 1.5 million women and found no link between abortion and breast cancer.”
Aside from this analysis, he explained that there have also “been several other large-scale studies that came to the same conclusion.”
10. Carrying a phone in your bra can cause cancer
According to Dr. Zeidman: “There is no evidence to support that cell phones cause cancer, period.”
“However, we do not have any long-term studies, so we may find this to be the case in the future. For now, why can’t you just put your phone in your pocket or bag?”
11. Nipple piercings increase breast cancer risk
Dr. Zeidman told MNT that this is a myth — nipple piercings do not increase breast cancer risk.
“However,” he elaborated, “they can lead to complications, such as infection, abscess, difficulty breastfeeding due to blocked ducts from scar tissue, nerve damage, keloids, cysts, and more rare but serious illness from HIV and hepatitis B and C.”
“For these reasons,” he said, “I always recommend against nipple piercing. If the deed is done, I recommend removing it.”
12. Sugar causes breast cancer
Dr. Zeidman maintains a firm stance on sugar: “Sugar should be avoided in general. It is addictive.”
“It can cause mood swings,” he continued, “It leads to spikes in insulin, which puts the body in a pro-inflammatory state. This, in turn, can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic inflammatory diseases.”
“Too much sugar can result in obesity, which is a risk factor for breast cancer.”
However, he explained that studies investigating links between sugar and breast cancer have been “mixed and inconsistent.”
While discussing sugar, it is worth busting a related myth: that sugar helps tumors grow. This myth arose because cancer cells divide rapidly and, therefore, need a lot of energy.
“While there is no concrete evidence to support this,” stated Dr. Zeidman, “I still recommend abstaining from added sugar as much as possible for overall well-being.”
13. Men do not get breast cancer
“Men have breasts… so yes, they too get breast cancer,” said Dr. Zeidman. “In fact, 1%
of all breast cancer diagnoses in the U.S. are in men.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 2,300 new cases of male breast cancer in 2017 and 500 deaths.
“While breast cancer is more common in women than men, there are still men who get breast cancer,” explained Dr. Fancher, “It’s important for men also to be aware of any changes in their breast since there are no recommended screening guidelines for men.”
“Any lump, pain, or changes should be brought to your doctor’s attention, even if you don’t have a strong family history.” – Dr. Fancher
Dr. Reitherman added, “Men are diagnosed with breast cancer rarely the most common risk factor is a family history of breast cancer. The BRCA2
genetic mutation markedly increased the risk of breast cancer in males who carry this gene.”
14. Mammograms cause breast cancer to spread
“This is a common misconception that I hear from my patients,” Dr. Zeidman told us.
“The thinking is that squeezing the cancer with compression during mammography, or performing a needle biopsy on the cancer, will cause the cancer to seed other parts of the breast.” However, he confirms:
“There is absolutely no evidence to support this.”
Dr. Reitherman agrees: “There is absolutely no evidence that mammograms cause breast cancer. The performance of a mammogram uses a very low dose of radiation and compression and has no documented or theoretical relationship to causing breast cancer.”
15. If there is no lump, there is no cancer
“If this were true, then we would not need mammograms,” said Dr. Zeidman. “Mammograms have been proven to save lives because they allow us to catch the cancer before it becomes palpable,”
In this context, “palpable” means that a person can feel the lump with their fingers.
“If we diagnose and treat a breast cancer while it is stage 1, survival approaches 100%. Survival drops as the stage advances. In fact, the cancer may never be palpable and still spread to other parts of the body,” Dr. Zeidman added.
According to Dr. Fancher, “Many breast cancers are found on screening mammograms and may not be felt. This is especially true for noninvasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ, which may only show up as calcifications on a screening mammogram.”
The take-home
Breast cancer is common, and while a healthy lifestyle might reduce the risk to a certain extent, vigilance is key. The earlier a doctor catches breast cancer, the higher the chances of surviving it.
Women Breast Cancer Support Charity Concept
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Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It happens when blood sugar levels rise due to problems with the use or production of insulin.
It can appear at any age, but it is more likely to occur after the age of 45 years.
It affects over 30 million Americans, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and it accounts for 90–95 percent of diabetes cases.
This article looks at the early signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes, the risk factors, and potential complications.
What is type 2 diabetes?
People with type 2 diabetes do not make or use insulin correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that regulates the movement of blood glucose, or sugar, into cells, which use it as energy.
When sugar cannot enter cells, this means:
too much glucose collects in the blood
the body’s cells cannot use it for energy
A doctor may diagnose diabetes if a person’s blood sugar levels are 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) or above after fasting for 8 hours.
Symptoms
The symptoms of high blood sugar in type 2 diabetes tend to appear gradually. Not everyone with type 2 diabetes will notice symptoms in the early stages.
If a person does experience symptoms, they may notice the following:
Frequent urination and increased thirst: When excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream, the body will extract fluid from tissues. This can lead to excessive thirst and the need to drink and urinate more.
Increased hunger: In type 2 diabetes, the cells are not able to access glucose for energy. The muscles and organs will be low on energy, and the person may feel more hungry than usual.
Weight loss: When there is too little insulin, the body may start burning fat and muscle for energy. This causes weight loss.
Fatigue: When cells lack glucose, the body becomes tired. Fatigue can interfere with daily life when a person has type 2 diabetes.
Blurred vision: High blood glucose can cause fluid to be pulled from the lenses of the eyes, resulting in swelling, leading to temporarily blurred vision.
Infections and sores: It takes longer to recover from infections and sores because blood circulation is poor and there may be other nutritional deficits.
If people notice these symptoms, they should see a doctor. Diabetes can lead to a number of serious complications. The sooner a person starts to manage their glucose levels, the better chance they have of preventing complications.
Symptoms in children and teens
Type 2 diabetes is more likely to appear after the age of 45 years, but it can affect children and teens who:
have excess weight
do not do much physical activity
have high blood pressure
have a family history of type 2 diabetes
have an African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, or American Indian background
The following symptoms may occur:
weight loss, despite increased appetite and hunger
extreme thirst and dry mouth
frequent urination and urinary tract infections
fatigue
blurred vision
slow healing of cuts or wounds
numbness or tingling in hands and feet
itchy skin
If caregivers notice these symptoms, they should take the child to see a doctor. These are also symptoms of type 1 diabetes. Type 1 is less common but more likely to affect children and teenagers than adults. However, type 2 diabetes is becoming more common in young people than it was in the past.
Symptoms in older adults
At least 25.2 percent of people aged 65 and above have type 2 diabetes in the United States. They may have some or all the classic symptoms of type 2 diabetes.
They may also experience one or more of the following:
flu-like fatigue, which includes feeling lethargic and chronically weak
urinary tract infections
numbness and tingling in the hands, arms, legs, and feet due to circulation and nerve damage
dental problems, including infections of the mouth and red, inflamed gums
Obesity and diabetes infographic, detail of health care concept of obesity and diabetes. vector illustration.
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