Fables about breast cancer

Do you sometimes hear things that make you think: is it true or not? We list the most common myths about breast cancer for you and provide interpretation.

1. A mammogram is dangerous. Your breasts are squashed and hurt between the plates, which can cause injuries.

This is not true, in the past there have been some cases where the use of a wrong technique caused bruising. However, this does not lead to breast cancer, but can obviously cause temporary discomfort and pain. When using the latest mammography devices, the danger of causing injuries is almost non-existent.

2. Young girls and women cannot get breast cancer, it only affects women over 40 or 50.

Onjuist, alhoewel zeldzaam (< 5% van alle borstkankers) kan borstkanker ook jongere vrouwen (< 40jaar) treffen. Erfelijkheid speelt hier dikwijls een belangrijke rol en jongere vrouwen hebben meestal triple negatieve of herceptinegevoelige borstkankers.

Statistics for breast cancer in Flanders show that the cancer is virtually non-existent in women younger than 25. In 2011, for example, there was one diagnosis in Flanders, compared to three in 2010. Breast cancer is also not very common in the 25 to 29 age group, with 35 patients in Flanders in 2011. In the age group between 30 and 39 years, 256 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011.

Source: https://www.allesoverkanker.be

3. Breast cancer always means amputation, chemo and/or radiation, otherwise you will never be cured.

Breast cancer is a disease with "many faces. Treatment varies widely depending on the type of tumor and the patient themselves. Hormone-sensitive cancers, herceptin-sensitive cancers or cancers with neither sensitivity each require specific treatment. Both surgery, radiation and medical treatment (chemo, hormone or immunotherapy) are determined by age, cancer stage and biological properties of the tumor. Thus, not all breast cancers require amputation, chemo or radiation treatment.

4. If you are only receiving hormone or immunotherapy, I guess you didn't really have cancer.

Incorrect. There are different types of breast cancer, and therefore different treatment pathways. Hormone and immunotherapy are treatments that can be part of cancer treatment.

5. All breast cancers are the same.

One could almost say that no two breast cancers are the same. Both cause, type of breast cancer (sensitivity to hormones or tissue type), extensiveness and genetic background can differ. This is also why breast cancer medicine has become so complex and why each treatment is personalized as much as possible.

6. The larger the tumor, the heavier the therapy.

The "severity" of your treatment depends on the stage of your tumor and its structure. This takes into account the possible involvement of axillary glands, the biological characteristics of the tumor and the presence or absence of sensitivity to hormones or other tumor-promoting growth factors. The presence of metastases will also affect the "severity" of treatment.

7. Sugar is dangerous if you have breast cancer and affects the risk of getting breast cancer.

Like any cell, a cancer cell needs sugar or glucose to grow. However, it is wrong to think that taking less sugar will stop cancer growth. This is because our liver already produces a lot of sugar on its own. Therefore, reducing sugar intake through your diet does not affect the growth of cancer cells. Moreover, cancer patients actually need a good balanced diet, and sugar is an integral part of that. Sugar per se is not a risk for developing breast cancer.

8. With hormone therapy, hair cannot fall out.

Incorrect, treatment with hormone therapies Tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitor can also cause hair loss. However, that loss will be much less pronounced than the loss that occurs with certain forms of chemotherapy. In fact, moderate hair loss or hair thinning can occur in 25% of patients receiving treatment with Tamoxifen. When treated with an aromatase inhibitor, it is as high as 30%. A reduction in estrogen levels, such as during menopause or antihormonal treatment, can lead to hair loss. This is because hair growth is less stimulated from the hair roots.

9. In vitro fertilization (IVF) increases risk of breast cancer

There is no increased risk of breast cancer after IVF treatment. A large-scale study of more than 25,000 women who underwent fertility treatment between 1980 and 1994 confirmed that. Recent studies also show no evidence of increased risk. It is true that IVF involves the temporary administration of sexual hormones (estrogen and progesterone). These hormones can promote the development of certain breast tumors. Therefore, women starting IVF treatment should always have breast cancer ruled out.

10. Breast cancer will always kill you.

Although women can indeed die from breast cancer, many survive the disease. The chances of a woman being alive after five years are 90.5% in Belgium.

Source: Cancer Registry Foundation

11. Eating soy products increases risk of breast cancer.

This is not true, global research on the role of soy products showed a slight protective effect of soy against developing breast cancer in Asian countries while this effect was barely seen in Western countries. However, further research is needed.

12. Large breasts increase the risk.

This is not true. Breast size does not affect the risk of developing breast cancer.

13. You can get breast cancer from deodorant.

Deodorant will not give you nasty, foul body odors, nor will it give you breast cancer. Scientific research shows there is no link between this deodorant and breast cancer.

14. Wearing underwire bras increases the risk of breast cancer.

With or without underwire: a bra can't hurt. Wearing bras does not lead to the development of breast cancer.

15. Knowledge of your breasts reduces the risk of breast cancer.

Look at your breasts regularly and know your breasts! Doing so will also help you notice changes in your breasts and is more likely to detect a breast cancer early. However, it does not give you a guarantee and so knowing your breasts cannot prevent a breast cancer either.

16. Breast cancer is always hereditary.

Despite what many people think, heredity plays a role in no more than 10% of women with breast cancer.

Thanks to Professor Jan Lamote for contributing to this article.