October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. So I thought instead f bombarding you with all the stats and ways to avoid it or check for it-let me rather give you some Myths and Facts so you know what is being said out there and how much of it is true.
Myths and Facts
MYTHS
• Cancer is a disease of the wealthy and developed countries
False: Anyone can get cancer, no matter who you are or where you live.
• Only old people get cancer
False: You can get cancer at any age. The youngest girl in South Africa reported with breast cancer was 6 years old.
• Cancer is a death sentence
False: If detected early, the cancer can be cured.
• Cancer is my fate
False: Cancer is a disease that can affect everyone.
• We must not talk about cancer
False: We must talk about cancer and by talking about it, you are making other people aware of it.
• There are no signs or symptoms of cancer
False: Signs and symptoms for breast cancer:
– A hard, rough lump in the breast or armpit
– Swelling of the glands in the armpit
– Changes in the skin of the breast eg, any new dimpling, indentation or orange peel looking on the skin of the breast
– Changes in the size of the breast eg, one breast becoming lower than the other, nipples are at different levels
– Changes in the nipples of the breast eg Nipple retraction (ie) where the nipple turns inward.
– Nipple discharge (other than breast milk) ie green and yellow is an infection, redish is a positive sign of cancer or it can be due to injury.
• There is nothing I can do about cancer
False: With the right treatment cancer can be cured.
• I don’t have the right to cancer care
False: Everyone, not matter who you are or where you live, has the right to any medical care.
• Children don’t get cancer
False: In Canada a 2 year old was diagnosed with breast cancer and by the time she was 3 years old her breast was removed. In South Africa our youngest survivor was 6 years old by the time she was 8/9 years old she had a double mastectomy.
• Breast cancer is caused by carrying money in your bra, so only women get it
False: Using your bra as a pocket causes pain and discomfort. Men also get breast cancer. It is 1% of our population.
• Cancer is a disease you get from upsetting your ancestors
False: Our lifestyle can contribute to us getting cancer, eg smoking, drinking, poor diet, lack of exercise, family history, etc..
• Cancer is always painful
False: Most cancerous lumps / tumors present themselves as painless.
• All tumors are cancerous
False: Not necessarily, it’s good to check out every lump or tumor to see if it is cancerous or not.
• If you are diagnosed with cancer, you will probably die
False: If untreated, there is a possibility you could die, but if caught in time and treated, you can live a long life.
• Testicular cancer will end your sex life
False: Once cured from the disease you can have a normal sex life.
• MRI is better than mammogram because it finds more cancer
False: A mammogram is specifically used to detect breast cancer and an MRI scan is used to detect the spread of cancer into the lymph.
• Mammograms prevent breast cancer
False: Mammograms cannot prevent breast cancer, it merely detects if you have it.
• Most women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease
False: People with cancer in their family will have a higher risk of getting cancer but you can get cancer even if there is no family history of cancer.
• Men don’t get breast cancer
False: Men can get breast cancer. Reason being men also have a armpit, nipples and breast tissue and muscles.
• Everyone’s breast cancer is the same
False: No one is the same. It can appear in different spots and be different sizes. Some have spread and in the later stages, while some are still in the early stages.
• In terms of survival, removing the entire breast is better than just cutting the cancer out and getting radiation
False: It all depends on the size of the breast, the size of the tumour and how far the cancer has spread.
• There are drugs that can prevent breast cancer
False: There are drugs to deduce the size of the tumor.
• Once diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s very important to make treatment decisions immediately
False: You are entitled to a second opinion.
• With new treatments we can now cure breast cancer
False: There is no cure for breast cancer.
• If I am not a scientist, then I won’t be able to understand breast cancer research
False: Breast cancer is being researched throughout the world , and is explained in detail on cancer research websites for all to understand.
• You can catch cancer from other people
False: Cancer itself is not contagious. People with cancer in the family will have a higher chance of getting cancer than with those with no cancer in the family.
• Pesticides cause cancer
False: What we do know is, there are clear links between many industrial chemicals and some cancers. So if you work with these chemicals, wear protective gear.
• Masturbation causes testicular or prostate cancer.
False: It actually reduces the risk of testicular and prostate cancer.
• Tight underpants cause testicular cancer.
False: It only causes discomfort.
• Regularly eating burnt meat cooked on a braai won´t increase your risk for cancer.
False: Eating burnt meat regularly can increase your risk for cancer.
• Women have prostates but they don´t cause as much trouble.
A survey found that over 50% of men believe women have prostates. But it´s FALSE, which is great news, otherwise more people might have to get up in the middle of the night for a pee!
• Drinking alcohol may make you more likely to get mouth, liver, colon, breast, and other cancers. It doesn’t matter if you prefer beer, wine, or liquor.
False: It’s how much you drink that counts. The more you drink, the higher the risk.
• For most cancers, a biopsy can cause cancer cells to spread
False: A biopsy can detect cancer and even the stages of the cancer.
• What can you do to lower your chances of getting cancer?
Exercise, along with healthy eating and managing your weight, can make you less likely to get certain cancers, including breast and colon cancer.
False: There are other contributing factors that can increase your risk of getting cancer, such as stress, family history, previous cancers, etc…
• Do cell phones cause cancer?
No, not according to the best studies completed so far. Cancer is caused by genetic mutations, and cell phones emit a type of low-frequency energy that does not damage genes.
False: Cell phones have high doses of radiation which we are exposed to on a daily basis.
• Do antiperspirants or deodorants cause breast cancer?
No. The best studies so far have found no evidence linking the chemicals typically found in antiperspirants and deodorants with changes in breast tissue.
False: Antiperspirants and deodorants do not cause breast cancer, they in fact can cause abscesses in the armpit.
Todays Outfit:
Jersey @Pringle
Pants @Polo
Vest @Forever New
Sunglasses @ RayBan
Shoes and Necklace @ Mr Price
Labels: breast cancer, Forever New, inspirational, Mr price, polo, Pringle, Rayban
