Thanks to extensive medical research, we now understand more about breast cancer’s biology and treatment than ever before. Public awareness campaigns have helped educate people about breast cancer, which affects one in six women in India. However, many myths about breast cancer continue to circulate online and even among well-meaning individuals.  

Dr. Sachin Ambekar, Director of Minimal Access Surgery, Surgical Oncology & Medical Director at MASSH Hospital has debunked common breast cancer myths: 

Myth 1: Most women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history or genetic mutation.   

Fact: Only 10-15% of breast cancers are caused by inherited genetic mutations such as BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2. While these mutations do increase the risk, the majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no known genetic mutations or family history. 

Myth 2: Only women can get breast cancer.   

Fact:  Although breast cancer is predominantly diagnosed in women, men can develop it too. In 2023, around 2,790 men were diagnosed with breast cancer. Male breast cancer is often undertreated, which leads to worse outcomes. Men also have breast tissue, making them susceptible to the disease. 

Myth 3: Only older people are diagnosed with breast cancer.   

Fact:  While breast cancer is more common in women over 50, younger women are increasingly being diagnosed. Over the past five years, diagnoses in women under 50 have risen by more than 2% annually. These younger women often face more aggressive forms of the disease and are diagnosed at later stages, leading to worse outcomes. 

Myth 4: You can’t reduce your risk of breast cancer.   

Fact:  While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer, women can take proactive steps to protect their breast health: 

– Undergo a breast cancer risk assessment. 

– Learn your family history of cancer. 

– Understand the normal appearance of your breasts. 

– Eat a healthy diet, limit alcohol, quit smoking, and exercise regularly. 

Myth 5: Mammograms aren’t effective.   

Fact: Mammograms have saved millions of lives by detecting breast cancer early. Early detection increases the likelihood of successful treatment with less invasive options. New technologies like contrast-enhanced spectral mammography and AI-powered thermal imaging further enhance screening capabilities. 

Myth 6: Everyone’s breast cancer is the same.   

Fact: Breast cancer is not a single disease but a collection of diseases with different drivers, prognoses, and treatment responses. Research continues to personalize breast cancer treatment, matching therapies to individual tumor characteristics for better outcomes. 

Myth 7: Breast cancer always presents as a lump.   

Fact: While lumps are a common sign, breast cancer can also manifest as breast swelling, skin dimpling, nipple discharge, or a red rash. Many women are diagnosed during routine screenings before symptoms appear. 

Myth 8: Wearing wire bras or using antiperspirants increases breast cancer risk.   

Fact: Studies have debunked these claims. A 2014 study of 1,500 women found no association between bra-wearing habits and breast cancer risk. Additionally, there is no scientific evidence linking antiperspirant deodorants to breast cancer development. 

Myth 9: Eating sugar causes breast cancer to grow faster.  

Fact: No research shows that cutting out sugar shrinks cancer. However, a diet high in refined sugar can lead to obesity and inflammation, which are risk factors for breast cancer. A balanced diet that limits processed sugars is recommended. 

By debunking these myths, we hope to better educate the public and promote proactive breast health. 

PLYMOUTH, Minn. — New data shows the breast cancer rate is growing each year in women under 50, with the highest increase in Asian American and Pacific Islander women.

Plymouth residents Sara Pelissero and Jackie Bohline call each other the “doppelneighbors.”

“We live next door, we’re both adopted from Korea, we both married White men, we both have small white dogs,” Pelissero said.

But life got serious after Pelissero moved in. Right after having her baby girl, she felt a lump.

“I was diagnosed at 33. I was still years away from having my first mammogram. But it was a sense of like something’s not right and something’s off,” Pelissero said.

After surgery and treatment, the cancer left her body. But then a few years later, a call brought it all back.

“I was like, ‘I just need to hug you,’ and like we both cried together, and it was just a situation, you don’t want anybody to be part of this club,” Pelissero said.   

Bohline had cancer, too. She found out after having her very first mammogram at 40. It was an aggressive cancer. Had she waited longer, it would have advanced.

“You want to catch it as early as you can because that’s when these treatments become powerful,” Bohline said.

Bohline says she wants others to know that age doesn’t matter when it comes to breast cancer.

“It’s everywhere, unfortunately. It’s one in eight women, and so that’s a high statistic,” Bohline said.

“You know yourself better than anyone, you know when something’s not right. Don’t ignore that feeling,” Pelissero said.

The proud moms now share something else: they’re both finally cancer-free.

“We will be together forever (laughs)!” Bohline said.

Bohline says from her recent journey, she has three big takeaways for anyone facing a new diagnosis:

• Get mammograms every year right on the dot
• Be bold in advocating for yourself and make sure you choose doctors you’re fully comfortable with and trust
• Get genetic testing so you can fully understand your family history

Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield

Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield loves sharing the good news. She hosts a show on Sunday mornings based on local “positivity and empowerment,” leading right into CBS Sunday Morning.

Actress Jenna Fischer, known for her role as Pam Beesly in the sitcom “The Office,” revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year but is now cancer-free after receiving treatment.

Fischer said in a post on Instagram on Tuesday she was diagnosed with Stage 1 triple-positive breast cancer in December of last year after an inconclusive mammogram led to a breast ultrasound. 

“I never thought I’d be making an announcement like this but here we are. Last December, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Triple Positive Breast Cancer. After completing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation I am now cancer-free,” Fischer wrote. 

The Instagram post included a series of slides detailing her cancer diagnosis and treatment. She also urged her followers to schedule their annual mammograms. 

Fischer wrote that triple-positive breast cancer is an aggressive form of cancer but is highly responsive to treatment. She said she underwent a lumpectomy to remove a tumor in January, followed by 12 rounds of weekly chemotherapy and weeks of radiation. “Luckily my cancer was caught early and it hadn’t spread to my lymph nodes or throughout the rest of my body,” she wrote. 

“I’m happy to say I’m feeling great,” Fischer added.

Fischer also revealed she had lost her hair during the chemotherapy and had been wearing wigs.

“I’m making this announcement for a few reasons. One, I’m ready to ditch the wigs. Two, to implore you to get your annual mammograms,” she wrote.

“I’m serious, call your doctor right now,” she added. “My tumor was so small it could not be felt on a physical exam. If I had waited six months longer, things could have been much worse. It could have spread.”

In the post she also thanked her medical team, husband, family and friends. “It takes a village to fight cancer, and I have had an amazing village,” Fischer, a mother of two children, 10 and 13, wrote. 

She also thanked her best friend and “The Office” co-star Angela Kinsey, “who protected and advocated for me.”

Fischer and Kinsey host a podcast, “Office Ladies,” where they discuss episodes of “The Office” and share behind-the-scenes stories about the sitcom.

“For a long time, she was the only person in my workspace who knew,” Fischer wrote. “When I lost my hair, she wore hats to our work meetings so I wouldn’t be the only one. When I needed a break, we took one. I am so lucky to have a career with this kind of flexibility. Cancer treatment requires a lot of flexibility. For a gal who likes to plan, that was a hard adjustment. But, continuing to work has brought so much joy to my life during treatment.”