by Ronald Louis Peterson

Created on: July 30, 2009   Last Updated: August 15, 2009

Breast Cancer: Facts vs Myths

Breast cancer will claim the lives of about 40,170 women and 440 men in the United States this year. (1) The good news is that many more are surviving this disease than ever before. So while over 192,000 U.S. women will be told they have breast cancer this year, the great majority will live for many more years because most will be diagnosed early. Unfortunately, many myths have arisen about breast cancer due to misinformation. To dispel some of these harmful lies, let's take a look at what medical science now tells us about breast cancer.

Myth: Drinking Coffee Increases a Woman's Risk of Developing Breast Cancer.

Fact: Coffee does not cause breast cancer, and in several studies with rats, coffee has been shown to actually prevent cancer. Health care professionals once believed that caffeine caused a common non-cancerous breast condition characterized by cysts, lumpiness, tenderness, pain, etc.. Some women find that reducing their caffeine intake by avoiding coffee, tea, chocolate, and soft drinks decreases water retention and breast discomfort. This is a controversial topic among health care professionals, since studies linking breast pain and caffeine have been inconsistent. (2)

Myth: Oral Contraceptive Pills (Birth Control Pills) Cause Breast Cancer.

Fact: Birth control pills do not cause breast cancer, even after prolonged use (10+ years). Though oral contraceptives do contain small amounts of estrogen and progesterone (hormones often linked with increased risk over time), the amount of these hormones is too small to pose a noteworthy risk. (2)

Myth: Antiperspirants or Antiperspirants/deodorant Combinations are a Leading Cause of Breast Cancer.

Fact: Antiperspirants (or antiperspirant/deodorant combinations) do not cause breast cancer. A false rumor has been broadly circulated claiming that antiperspirants prevent the body from purging dangerous toxins. The message reports that because antiperspirants actually work to stop underarm perspiration (as opposed to regular deodorants that merely provide fragrance), certain toxins become trapped inside the body. These toxins, according to the rumor, are deposited in the lymph nodes below the arms, leading to cell mutations and the development of breast cancer. This link between antiperspirants and breast cancer is completely inaccurate. (2)

Nancy Mehne, a breast cancer survivor in North Carolina who was diagnosed early at 69, was happy to learn what she heard about radiation

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