Common misconceptions about breast cancer

Wearing underwire bras, using deodorant, or having mammograms increase the risk of breast cancer are all false beliefs.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, usually diagnosed in women between the ages of 65 and 74. Misconceptions about the disease can increase anxiety about it.

Being overweight causes cancer

Obesity promotes chronic inflammation, which increases the risk of breast cancer. Fat cells produce excess estrogen, which promotes hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. However, according to the US National Cancer Institute, a combination of factors such as age, genetics, environment, gender... contribute to the increased risk of this disease, weight is only one factor.

People who are overweight or obese (have a body mass index - BMI greater than 25) have an increased risk of breast cancer, depending on other risk factors. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk.

Deodorants cause breast cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, it is hypothesized that underarm antiperspirants prevent the body from sweating, so the lymph nodes located under the arms and throughout the chest cannot remove toxins from the body, leading to the disease. However, the kidneys and liver are the organs that remove carcinogens from the blood, releasing them into urine and bile, not the lymph nodes.

There is also a theory that some ingredients in deodorants and antiperspirants applied under the arms and near the breasts have estrogen-like effects that increase the risk of breast cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, no studies have found a link between the use of deodorants and antiperspirants and the development of breast cancer. But they recommend not using them before a mammogram. The metal components in them can appear on the scan as calcifications in the breast, leading to false images and misdiagnosis.

63 is the average age for women to get breast cancer. Photo: Freepik — 63 is the average age for women to get breast cancer. Photo: *Freepik*

Underwire bras increase the risk of disease

Wires or metal bars in the cups of underwire bras restrict lymphatic drainage, causing toxins to build up in that area. This is a myth, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Underwire bras can lead to discomfort, pain, and sometimes swelling at the base of the breast, but they do not increase the risk of breast cancer. Going braless does not reduce this risk either.

There is no evidence to support a link between breast cancer and bra cup size, average number of hours worn per day, or age at which bra wearing began.

Mammograms increase the risk

Mammograms are a common imaging test used to diagnose breast cancer and detect changes in the breast. Because they expose the breast to radiation, many people are concerned that they increase their risk of developing the disease.

According to the American Cancer Society, research has not shown a higher risk of cancer due to radiation from routine mammograms. The low-dose, small amounts of radiation from mammograms are much lower than the amount of radiation received from the natural environment. Routine mammograms help detect cancer earlier than worrying about exposure to small amounts of radiation.

Mai Cat (According to Everyday Health )

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