It is time for Breast cancer Awareness Month

This month of October is noted by many as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a time for America to reflect not only upon those whose lives have been affected by breast cancer, but also to focus on preventative actions and even a cure. Data is a powerful tool, and Cancer of the breast Awareness Month should be about learning from the reality and myths surrounding breast cancer. Source of article - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month by Personal Money Store
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Cancer of the breast Awareness Month through the numbers
Women were diagnosed with 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 62,280 early-stage cancer of the breast in 2009 alone, reports American Cancer Society. Of those, more than 40,000 were forecasted to result in death. This past year a lot more men were diagnosed as well. About 2,000 men were told this. Death was a prediction of some of those. About 440 of those were given that diagnosis.
Breast cancer misconceptions

  • Bras with underwire make cancer more likely

The false belief here is that by constricting breast tissue, underwire bras trigger cancer-causing toxins to build up. Dr. Deborah Axelrod explains to Columbia Broadcasting System that this isn't really true.

  • Deodorant causes breast cancer

This is also false, claims Dr. Schnabel. No studies have shown a link between antiperspirant and toxins that cause breast cancer.

  • Get breast cancer from plastic water bottles

There's a debate on whether or not a cancer-causing dioxin is leaked to the water by sitting in plastic water bottles, although there isn't a consensus. BPA (bisphenol) is another substance of concern in plastic, but even that has not been definitively connected to breast cancer.

  • Breast cancer can come from tests. Mammograms to be specific

Dr. Schnabel tells Columbia Broadcasting System News that the amount of radiation (.1 to .2 rads per picture) released in a mammogram is equal to or less than what a woman's breasts are exposed to naturally over a three-month period.

  • More risk with lumpy breasts

While lumpy breasts can make breast cancer detection somewhat more difficult, having lumpy breasts does not resign a woman to breast cancer. A doctor should investigate if you discover new breast lumps, reports Dr. Axelrod, as it could mean cancer.

  • I won't get cancer of the breast with no family history

80 percent of cancer of the breast is sporadic, although it can trace via a family also.
Data from
American Cancer Society
cancer.org/Research/CancerFactsFigures/BreastCancerFactsFigures/index
CBS News
cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20018296-10391704.html