 Myths & Facts
Myths and Facts You Should Know
Myth: No one in my family has breast cancer so I'm not at risk.
Fact: More than 80% of all women with breast cancer have NO family history of the disease!
Myth: I don't need a mammogram if I have no symptoms or problems.
Fact: A mammogram can often find cancers when they are very small, often several years before a lump or change can be felt, long before they cause symptoms or problems.
Myth: I've had a normal mammogram, so I don’t need another.
Fact: Once is not enough. Every woman age 40 or older should have an annual mammogram.
Myth: You cannot get breast cancer while pregnant.
Fact: Women can be diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant.
Myth: I cannot afford a mammogram.
Fact: Almost all insurance companies provide coverage for mammograms. If you are uninsured, contact our offices for more information on programs in your area.
Myth: Mammograms are 100% accurate.
Fact: It is estimated that mammography detects 85% to 90% of all breast cancers. While the vast majority of abnormalities are detected by mammography, some are not. If a patient has a lump or other change that is “negative,” the patient should still pursue that finding with his or her physician. A lump you find should never be ignored!
Myth: An injury to the breast causes breast cancer.
Fact: There is no link between breast injury and breast cancer. However, an injury to the breast should not be ignored. It should be treated like any other injury to your body.
Myth: Mammograms prevent breast cancer.
Fact: A mammogram cannot prevent breast cancer, but it is an excellent tool to detect the disease at an early stage. It is the only FDA approved exam to screen for breast cancer.
Myth: Only women can have breast cancer.
Fact: Men can also develop breast cancer.
Myth: All breast lumps are cancerous.
Fact: Most breast lumps are benign – all should be checked.
Myth: I've lived this long without getting breast cancer. Why bother now with a mammogram?
Fact: Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. More than three-fourths of the breast cancers diagnosed each year occur in women older than 50.
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