You may hear many different breast cancer myths after you are diagnosed with breast cancer. It may be hard for you to separate what is true versus what is not.  Here are some of the common myths that you may hear.

10 Common Breast Cancer Myths

1-Most breast cancers run in families.

Yet, only 5%-10% of cases are thought to be hereditary.

2-Breast implants raise your risk of breast cancer.

With implants it may be harder to detect abnormalities on a mammogram, therefore additional X-rays may be ordered.

3-There is nothing you can do to lower your risk of breast cancer.

90% of breast cancers are related to lifestyle and environmental factors. As a result, you can reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, and limit alcohol intake.

4-Most lumps are cancerous.

It is quite the opposite, with 80% of lumps being benign (noncancerours).

5-Underwire bras can cause breast cancer.

Most noteworthy, there is no evidence to support this.

6-Surgery causes breast cancer to spread due to air exposure.

There is no evidence to support this.

7-Regular mammograms prevent breast cancer.

This is not true, however regular mammograms provide early detection.

8-Women with small breast have less risk of developing breast cancer.

While this is not true, smaller breast however, may be easier to examine.

9-Antiperspirants cause breast cancer.

Currently there is no evidence to support this.

10-You can not get breast cancer after a mastectomy.

Unfortunately, cancer can spread. Consequently, there can be a reoccurrence in the same breast even after a mastectomy.  Reoccurrence can also occur in the opposite breast.

In conclusion, after your diagnosis you may seem like you are getting conflicting information from different sources. First of all, you should always consult your doctor for clarification. Every case of breast cancer is different, so rely on your health care team to provide you with the most relevant information.