Do you worry about the same thing happening to you when you hear the sad news that someone around you has breast cancer? Do you wake up to find changes around your breasts, not lumps, but possible cancer? Let’s explore the truth of breast cancer together with experts! Rumor 1: Once breast cancer is detected, the tumor must be removed immediately, otherwise it will spread quickly. Truth: Only very few cases are among the tumors that spread very fast and require immediate action. Generally speaking, breast cancer develops more slowly than most other cancers. In breast cancer detected by screening, the cancer cells have basically been present in the breast for 3-15 years. Advice to you: In most cases, it is absolutely helpful to take a few weeks to examine your other options, such as the possibility of breast-conserving treatment instead of a total mastectomy. You can also use this time to get other doctors’ opinions, which will also give you plenty of time to adjust psychologically. Rumor 2: Most women who develop breast cancer have a family history of the disease. Breast cancer has little to do with genes Truth: Only about 15-20% of breast cancer patients have a family history of the disease, and even in this percentage, it is not always the role of genes. Sometimes the common causative factors are simply similar lifestyles, behaviors and dietary habits among relatives. Advice to you: Just because someone in your family has breast cancer does not mean that you are necessarily at risk for a genetic mutation, or that that genetic gene will necessarily trigger the cancer and strike at some point. But it is still important to know your family history and to be diligent in getting screened for breast cancer. Rumor 3: If you don’t have any contributing factors, you won’t get breast cancer. Truth: The vast majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have any known causative factors. However, the chance of developing breast cancer is still higher if: someone in your family has had breast cancer; you have never had children or had children after the age of 30; you drink alcohol more than once a day; you start your period at a younger age or have a late menopause; you are overweight or have a sedentary lifestyle after menopause. Advice to you: There is no absolute way to prevent breast cancer from occurring, but you can reduce your risk by exercising, controlling your weight and limiting alcohol intake. Those at high risk should have a comprehensive annual breast examination. Those women with very high risk factors (family history of the disease or biopsy results showing atypical cells) should consider taking anti-estrogen drugs. Rumor 4: The first sign of breast cancer is a painless lump. Perform monthly self-examinations Truth: Many women are diligent in performing mammograms for the purpose of finding lumps. However, we should also pay attention to any thickening, redness or asymmetry of the breast tissue. It is also very important to watch for changes in the nipples and skin. Advice to you: Perform monthly self-examinations from the age of 20. A thorough breast examination should involve the area around the collarbone and even the bilateral lymph nodes (under the armpit on each side). Remember, 8 out of 10 lumps are benign. Most of the lumps you find will be benign cysts (or fibroids). But if you find any lump, don’t delay, go to your doctor immediately for diagnosis. Rumor 5: Breast cancer is more likely to cause death in women than other cancers. Truth: More women die from lung cancer than breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, there were about 72,130 deaths from the former in the United States in 2006, compared to 40,970 deaths from the latter. And the death rate from breast cancer is decreasing. Today, most cancers can be detected much earlier when they are easily treatable. Advice to you: Your chances of survival depend largely on the stage at which the cancer is detected. Therefore, regular mammograms and mammograms can help you detect it at a stage when it is still curable. Rumor 6: Anyone who is tested for breast cancer must undergo chemotherapy. Truth: Chemotherapy may be required. However, there are several types of breast cancer that are treated with surgery or radiation therapy, supplemented with hormones. Breast cancer is not just a single disease; there are many types, and each type is different at different times of development. Although doctors just refer to them collectively as breast cancer, different types of breast cancer require completely different treatment methods. Therefore, the treatment method for each person suffering from breast cancer is different. Advice to you: Detecting the tumor early usually means less chance of needing chemotherapy. But if this is part of your treatment, it doesn’t mean that the cancer has gotten worse. Chemotherapy can get rid of cancer cells from your body as early as possible and, to a higher degree, can prevent them from spreading to improve the quality of life. Rumor 7: Having a mammogram once a year can expose you to too many rays, and this can lead to breast cancer. Mammograms are relatively safe Truth: The word never appears in all medical books, and all we can say is that very, very few breast cancers are caused by regular mammograms. It is true that mammograms do carry a small amount of radiation, but they are performed under strict monitoring of industry standards and rules, so they are relatively safe. Advice to you: you should have annual mammograms from the age of 40. If you are under 40 and are not at high risk for breast cancer, you don’t need this test yet. If you are under 40 but are in the minority for breast cancer, talk to your doctor about whether you need a mammogram accompanied by other imaging modalities such as ultrasound and MRI. Rumor 8: Standard mammograms are outdated and not as effective as other imaging tests. Truth: Studies have shown that regular mammograms can reduce the chance of death by as much as 44%, and although this figure has been questioned by many, it is undeniable that standard mammograms are still the best of the available regular fluoroscopies. When there are concerns about mammograms, many patients benefit from the use of ultrasound or MRI as a supplement. Your advice: If you are under 50 years old, have heavy breasts, or are still menstruating, you can ask your doctor to take digital mammograms (using a computer, not X-rays, to record breast imaging). If the results of the breast photograph are suspicious, talk to your doctor about supplementing it with an ultrasound to avoid a possible but unnecessary biopsy that could leave scar tissue and prevent future observations. Rumor 9: Once breast cancer has not recurred in 5 years, your cancer is completely cured. It is still possible for breast cancer to recur at any time. Truth: Even though most recurrences occur within 3-5 years of the last incidence, breast cancer can still recur at any time, regardless of the time lapse. Some patients even have a recurrence 30 years after cure. And 5 years is just as a concept of time in terms of medical statistics, for patients, the number has no meaning, only the non-recurrence is the hard truth. Advice to you: According to statistics, 25% of breast cancer recurrence is 5 years after the first one, so whenever you have had breast cancer, even in the distant past, when you find new signs, you must go to see your doctor.