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Araneta City joins the international community in celebrating Breast
Cancer Awareness Month this October. Through this annual event, countries
across the world seek to inform and educate people regarding this disease which
continues to affect millions of people globally.
Despite the widespread nature of this disease, there remains a lot of
commonly believed misconceptions about it. To help you better understand Breast
Cancer, we have compiled a list of these misconceptions so that you may better
lookout for yourself and your loved ones.
Myth: Breast Cancer is Hereditary
There is a common belief that you will not get breast cancer if your
family has no history of the disease. While it is true that some cancers are
caused by a
change in certain genes that are passed on from parents, those only account for
a small number of breast cancer patients. The truth is, that a lot of those
diagnosed with breast cancer have no known family history of the disease.
Breast
cancer is caused due to a combination of factors including age, diet, and
physical health, so family history is not the only basis in determining one’s
susceptibility to the disease. It is best to seek the advice of health
professionals together with regular check-ups to be certain.
Myth: Consuming Sugar Causes Breast Cancer
Despite
the myth that “Sugar feeds cancer”, sugar itself does not actually contribute
to the growth of cancer cells, but rather it is an unhealthy diet that does. According
to the American Cancer Society, eating too much unhealthy food may lead to obesity,
which in turn increases the chance of cancer cells developing.
Consuming
too much sugary food such as desserts or soft drinks does however contribute to
an unhealthy diet, so there is some truth in the saying. What is important is
to maintain a well-balanced diet to combat unhealthy weight gain.
Myth: Only Women can get Breast Cancer
While
Breast Cancer is more common in women, that does not mean that men do not
develop the disease. In the US, 1 in every 100 breast cancers diagnosed are
male patients.
No matter
the sexuality, the treatment for breast cancer is the same as it still widely
depends on the size of the tumor and how wide it has spread. Some symptoms men
should look out for are lumps or swelling of the breast, redness in the skin of
the breast, and irritation of the breast skin.
Myth: Breast Cancer only Happen to the Elderly
Though
risk for breast cancer increases with age, it is still possible for people
under 40 to develop the disease. This may be a result of a multitude of reasons
including genetic mutations, obesity, and over consumption of alcohol.
Diagnosing
breast cancer on younger women is often more difficult due to their denser
breast tissue as compared to older women. They advise younger women to be on
the lookout for symptoms of the disease such as lumps, nipple discharge, focal
pains, and skin changes
****
Continuous
education about this disease is needed so that we may overcome the stigma that
comes with this disease as well become better equipped to support those
afflicted with it.
To learn
more about Breast Cancer, you may revisit Araneta City’s “Let’s Talk Pink” events
at the official Araneta City Facebook page.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/index.htm
https://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/genetics
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/what-is-breast-cancer.html
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