Breast Cancer

Dispelled breast cancer myths

10/22/1999 03:15PM

Question:

What are some recently dispelled myths concerning the causes of breast cancer? Much information about everyday risks circulates the media, but because data changes so often I never know what really causes cancer or prevents breast cancer.Can you answer my question?

Answer:

It was a common belief that women who had fibrocystic disease of the breast were at high risk for breast cancer. This has not been shown in scientific studies. The American College of Pathologists made a statement in the late 1980`s that fibrocystic disease of the breast does not increase to risk of breast cancer. Another fear that women have is that a blow or trauma to the breast will cause breast cancer. This is not true. This myth may seem silly to some but it is still an attitude among many that cancer is contagious. Women have reported losing their job or being ignored by coworkers. Cancer is not contagious. A common breast pain called mastalgia causes many women discomfort and fear that it is cancer. Mastalgia can be related to the menstrual cycle or it can be constant. Little is known about the treatment of these breast pains only that it is not breast cancer.
Causes of breast cancer are not just one thing but a combination of many factors in the environment, genetics, and lifestyle. I prefer to discuss the causes as risk factors for breast cancer. A risk factor is anything that increases a person`s chance of getting a disease. Women with one or many breast cancer risk factors may never develop breast cancer, whereas, many women with breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors. There are risk factors related to breast cancer that cannot be changed. Being a woman is a risk factor because breast cancer is 100 times more common among women than men. Breast cancer increases with age. Over the age of 50 breast cancer increases about 77%. The most recent studies show that 5-10% of breast cancer cases are due to genes that are inherited. Women who have close blood relatives who have breast cancer are at a higher risk. If your mother, sister or daughter(first degree relative) has had breast cancer, your risk is doubled and having two first-degree relatives increases your risk 5-fold. A woman with cancer in one breast has a 3-4 fold increased risk of developing cancer in the other breast. There is a significant increase in breast cancer in women who had chest area radiation therapy as a child or young woman. A long menses, meaning menstruation starting at an early age and lasting through a late age, may be a slightly higher risk factor. All of these risk factors cannot be changed. There are lifestyle factors that increase breast cancer risk. A recent analysis of data of studies found that women now using oral contraceptives have a slightly greater risk of breast cancer. Other factors that show slightly higher breast cancer risk are: women who have had no children or who had their first born after the age of 30; long term use of estrogen replacement therapy(10 years or longer); women who drink 2-5 alcoholic drinks daily; overnutrition or eating more than required causing obesity or not eating the correct foods that contain vitamins A,C,and E.
Studies are being published every day that change the scene for high risk factors. We still do not have sufficient studies that link cigarette smoking to breast cancer. Studies of fat content in the diet are inconclusive as some find no relation of breast cancer to dietary fat intake. But that is not to say fat intake has not been related to ther types of cancer and heart disease. It is highly recommended to maintain a healthy weight and limit intake of high-fat foods, especially animal sources of fat. We also recommend that 5 fruits and 5 vegetables be included in your daily diet.
Lastly, what women do and where they live have an influence for increasing risks of breast cancer. These are the studies that are under way in the field of environmental influences on breast cancer risk.
If you have any specific concerns that you have heard about, do not hestitate to write again. I have tried to provide you with the most prevalent risks that may contribute to breast cancer either alone or a combination of many. Thank you for writing.

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Response by:

Janet Trigg, RN, MSN, EdD
Associate Professor, Emeritus
College of Nursing
University of Cincinnati