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The truth about breast cancer Last month’s issue was all about breast cancer basics. This month, we reveal some of the common misconceptions about this prevalent disease and give you the simple truth.
A Slice of Orange is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes Orange de Guzman, MD
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cancer. Again, this is why regular breast self-exams and medical checkups should not be taken for granted.
Myth: If you can’t feel any breast lumps, you don’t have cancer. Fact: The truth is that some breast cancers cannot be felt easily. A specialist can detect small tumors just by a thorough examination of the breast, but some breast abnormalities are so small that only a screening test such as a mammogram can identify them. When mammography reveals early breast cancer, the chances for survival after treatment are very high.
Myth: If there is no one in your family with breast cancer, you are never going to have it. Fact: Although a family history of breast cancer makes a woman high risk for the disease, the opposite is not necessarily true. Many women with breast cancer do not have obvious risk factors. Just because you don’t have relatives with the disease doesn’t mean you will never have breast
Myth: Underwire bras and tight bras can lead to breast cancer. Fact: Contrary to all those forwarded emails, there are no robust scientific findings to show a direct relationship between underwire bras and breast cancer. As for tight bras, it’s a good idea to stop wearing them – but only because they’re uncomfortable.
Myth: Flat-chested women cannot get breast cancer. Fact: To the ladies who are a bit bosomchallenged – don’t breathe a sigh of relief just yet. Breast size is unrelated to the risk of getting breast cancer. However, women who have smaller breasts may have an advantage when it comes to finding
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early cancer. Women who have bigger breasts may find it more difficult to detect lumps during breast self-exams; because there is more breast tissue, it’s easy to mistake normal tissue for a tumor.
Myth: Breast cancer does not develop in women younger than 50 years old. Fact: Breast cancer is more common in women older than 50 but this cancer can occur in women of any age.
Myth: Mammography is painful and can worsen existing breast cancer. Fact: Mammography (a special x-ray of the breast) involves compression of the breasts so it’s understandably uncomfortable; it’s not supposed to be unbearable though. Schedule your mammography days after your menstrual period, when
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your breasts are not tender. Remember that more compression translates to a better image so try to bear the discomfort for a little while before you tell the med tech to stop. In addition, the pressure from the mammography machine cannot cause cancer to spread. On the contrary, mammography is one of the best tools to detect early breast cancer. As with all cancers, early detection of breast cancer means a better chance of survival.
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is simply not true. However, after sustaining a breast injury, some women find a lump coincidentally because they tend to feel or touch the injured area afterwards.
Myth: Breast cancer can develop after breast trauma or injury. Fact: A number of women think that once their breasts get hit accidentally, they are at risk for developing breast cancer. This
Myth: Men cannot get breast cancer. Fact: It’s rare for men to get breast cancer (less than one-half of 1% of all cases of breast cancer occur in men) but it does happen. Men who discover anything suspicious in their chest area should get over any embarrassment and consult a doctor.
Myth: A needle biopsy can disturb tumor cells and cause them to spread to other parts of the body. Fact: Many breast cancers can be diagnosed by a needle biopsy, wherein a sample of the suspicious tumor is taken using a needle connected to a syringe. It has been proven scientifically that these kinds of biopsies do not cause or accelerate the spread of cancer.
er Deat h rates from breast canc g have been gradually declinin and continue to decline. This is likely due to increased d awareness and screening an . improved treatment methods Screening is crucial!
A slice of trivia The French term peau d’orange is used to describe the appearance of the breast afflicted with breast cancer. Sometimes, breast cancer causes the skin of the breast to dimple. What is the translation of this foreign phrase? Freshen up on your researching skills, e-mail us the answer at orange@activelink-consult.com and win a prize! From those with the correct answer, 40 people will be randomly chosen to win a gift from Wacoal. We’ll include the answer in the next issue of A Slice of Orange.
Answer to last issue’s question:
MRM is a type of surgery for breast cancer, wherein the surgeon removes the whole breast and most or all of the lymph nodes under the arm but spares the chest muscles. What does MRM stand for?
MRM stands for modified radical mastectomy. In this procedure, the entire breast is removed, including the skin, areola and nipple, as well as most of the lymph nodes under the arm. MRM is not the only option for breast cancer patients; this surgery is usually recommended for treating large tumors and those that have already spread to the lymph nodes.
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelink-consult.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2009 ActiveLink
Benefits Made Better
ActiveLink 104 VA Rufino Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, 1229 Philippines T: +632 817 4606 / 817 7900 www.activelink-consult.com
The Orange wants to he ar from you! Dying to ask us your health related questio ns? Itching to share your pe rsonal health tips? Want to sugg est topics for future issues? Feel free to contac t us. You can e-m ail our team at orange@activ elink-consult.c om.