Breast Cancer Myths Debunked

In honor of October being National Breast Cancer Month, we're taking a look at some breast cancer myths that were debunked in an article on Health.com.  Some of them might surprise you!

Myth: Family history is the biggest risk factor for breast cancer.
Fact: The vast majority of women who have breast cancer have no family history.

Myth: Most breast lumps are cancerous.
Fact: About 80% of lumps found in breasts are benign.

Myth: All women have a one-in-eight chance of getting breast cancer.
Fact: Risk of developing breast cancer actually rises as we age. A woman who is in her 30s has about a one-in-233 chance. This rises to one-in-eight by the time she reaches 85.

Myth: Small-breasted women have a lower risk of breast cancer.
Fact: There's no connection between breast size and developing breast cancer.

Myth: Breast cancer presents in the form of a lump.
Fact: You should be alert for other signs of breast cancer, including swelling, skin irritation or dimpling, breast or nipple pain, nipples turning inward, discharge and redness, scaliness or thickening of the nipple or breast skin.

The article addresses 25 common myths and we've only addressed a few of them. Click here to read the article in its entirety.