Breast Health

Myth
Aluminium contained within antiperspirants and deodorants are known to create a temporary plug which prevents the sweat flow to the skin from inside the sweat glands. Due to this mechanism it can have hormonal like effect after being absorbed by the skin. Some scientists argued that this effect could in turn be a risk factor for cancer development, due to the close proximity to the breast. However, multiple studies have been completed since and no evidence based link has been found between the two.  

Fact
Parabens, are preservatives found in antiperspirants and deodorants. Parabens bind to oestrogen cells and are also found in cancer tumors. Studies have noted with long term use that they can mimic oestrogen activity at cellular level and disrupt hormone levels. Parabens are found in many everyday items, but you can limit exposure through reading labels and reducing the amount of topical products you use which contain these.  

Myth
Lymph channels in the breast are blocked by underwired bras causing a build-up of toxins. 

Fact
Studies have shown that although pain and swelling is associated with these types of bras there is no associated cancer risk. If the bra is too tight then this can cause blood vessels and nerves to be restricted, causing a disruption to these vital circulation and signalling channels.  

Myth
Stress predisposes people to breast cancer. Stress affects everyone differently and everyone will go through some form of stress in their lifetime. This does not predispose people to breast cancer.  

Fact
Some studies have made a link with long term stress to higher cortisol levels and the long term affect through suppression of the BRCA1 gene, which has an important role in DNA repair, immunity, and removal of abnormal cells within the breast. This means that it is biologically plausible that stress can be linked to some cancer cases, however more complex research is needed with a larger study of people.  

Myth
Nipple piercings can increase the risk of cancer. 

Fact
Nipple piercings are foreign objects and can cause local reactions like inflammation, swelling, and pain if infected with bacteria. This can cause serious conditions like abscesses if left untreated, which also mimics a specific type of breast cancer, but does not cause it. With newly pierced nipples clean them daily and keep the area dry and free from moisture to prevent the risk of bacteria building up around the site until fully healed. There is no risk of cancer with nipple piercings.  

Myth
Working shifts increase breast cancer risk 

Fact
Working frequent night shifts with consistent exposure to light at night disrupts the circadian rhythm and promotes oxidative stress thus increasing breast cancer risk by 2.34 times.  

Myth:
Mammograms (breast x-rays) radiate harmful radiation that can cause cancer. 

Fact:
Ionizing radiation does have the ability to cause cancer in high doses. During mammograms radiation is passed through the breast to form a picture, this examination is performed twice on every visit to give 2 different views of the breast tissue. The type of radiation used is low dose, meaning the risk of radiation induced cancer is 1 in 52,000. The radiation dose is higher in women who have breasts that are thicker than 9mm, with 1% of these women potentially being affected by the radiation dose. The benefits of screening far outweigh the risk, when comparing the data the number of lives saved with the number of radiation with detection of cancer cells enabling lifesaving treatments.   

Myth:
Regular screening will detect cancers early.  

Fact:
Screening mammograms can miss around 20% of breast cancers, this mainly occurs within those with dense breasts, causing a false-negative result. This mainly occurs in younger women. As women age their breasts become more fatty meaning imaging is clearer. If breast density is noted by mammographers they will usually suggest alternative screening methods such as ultrasound and MRI to rule out the presence of cancer. There is also the risk of over exposure to radiation from breast imaging. 

Myth:
Finding a lumps automatically means it is cancerous.  

Fact:
There are 3 different types of lumps that can form within the breast:  

1. Benign – these are non-cancerous and do not develop into cancer and can be lived with, and does not mean that an operation for removal is necessary or beneficial.  

2. Indeterminate – These lumps when looked at during imaging or under the microscope may contain cells that divide very rapidly, or whose presence have been known to be associated with certain cancerous lumps, or when removed have also had cancerous cells within or surrounding it. Indeterminate lumps or areas may be removed, or the individual placed under monitoring with yearly mammograms, and/or ultrasounds. 

3. Malignant – These lumps contain abnormal cancer cells that cause damage to surrounding tissue and have the potential to spread to other parts of the body (metastasis) causing damage. 

Myth:
Mobile phones including 5th generation phones (5G) have the ability to cause cancer risk.  

Fact:
Mobile phones do emit radiation in the radiofrequency region or the electromagnetic spectrum from up to 0.7-80ghz. These frequencies fall into the non-ionizing range of the spectrum, meaning the energy is too low to damage DNA or cause changes to genes that may increase the risk of cancer.   

Myth:
Trauma to the breast can cause cancer to develop.  

Fact:
Trauma to the breast does not cause cancer to develop. However, it can cause a breast condition called Fat necrosis, which causes a hard area to form within the breast which is made up of dead fat cells caused by trauma to the breast. This can be caused from physical trauma or post op complications. Sometimes it does occur with symptoms associated with breast cancer such as; thickening, dimpling, and nipple retraction. Overtime the body will break it down and get rid of the dead tissue on its own. In some cases surgical intervention is beneficial.   

Myth:
Having IVF predisposes people to increased cancer risk.  

Fact:
There is no significant association between fertility treatments and excessive breast cancer risk. Studies following over 600,000 women over 10+ years of follow ups who had 6 or more treatment cycles have shown no changes to their breast health. However, some historical studies have correlated some risks to be aware of in those who have a positive family history or related inherited genetic mutations for breast cancer, as the increase in oestrogen hormones can cause an excessive expression of genes, which can result in an increased risk of breast cancer.   

Myth:
Trans people are at a lower risk of breast cancer  

Fact:
Trans people have the same risk, especially if using hormonal treatment. Studies have noted that after a median of 18 years of use the type of breast cancers were hormonal in origin in Transwomen. Transmen showed a reduced risk due to removal of the breast tissue, compared to women and transwomen. However, after 15 years of hormonal therapy, there was a breast cancer risk increase compared to men. Regular checking and attending screening is beneficial in all groups.