Cancer is a disease no less than a nightmare.
No matter in which part of the body it begins and spreads to, a cancer diagnosis can be quite challenging. Everyday we hear about different types of cancers. Technically speaking, cancer is nothing but the uncontrolled growth of the body cells in a certain part of your body.
Cancer – What the Hype is About?
Depending upon the spread of cancer, it can either appear as localized tumors (benign) or can spread to the other areas (malignant). This spread of cancer is normally the standard for determining the cancer stages. In the case of all types of cancers, we know how difficult it can be to deal with the situation.
Breast cancer is one of the common types of cancer that affects a huge population proportion. My aunt was diagnosed to be a breast cancer sufferer when she was in her mid-30s. After going through the list of breast surgeons in Karachi we managed to find a good doctor for her. After the removal of the tumor, she managed to live well.
It was only possible as she was diagnosed at a very early stage. But that’s not the case always. There is a lot we don’t know about such conditions. The reason is there are a lot of misconceptions and breast cancer is one of the poorly understood conditions.
Common Misconceptions About Breast Cancer
I am sure most of you can relate to this and must be looking to differentiate facts from fiction. If yes, then this article can be the perfect read for you. Here are some of the common misconceptions about the breast cancer that one needs to know about;
1- A breast lump is always cancerous
One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to breast cancer saying that the presence of a breast lump means breast cancer. But this is not always the case.
Cancer tumors may appear as lumps in your breast that you can feel on your own. But this is not always the case as not every lump in your breast turns out to be cancerous. So, every time you find a lump in your breast don’t perceive it as cancer, only your physician after a series of diagnostic tests can confirm whether it is cancerous or not.
A breast biopsy is one such test. I was checking the biopsy test price and found that this is one of the commonly p[erformed tests for the diagnosis of breast cancer.
2- Breast cancer only affects women
No, this is not true in any case.
Even though women have bigger breasts, the male also has breasts which increase their likelihood of suffering from breast cancer as well. Though the causes of male breast cancer are less than women’s this doesn’t set them free from the trouble. Further, the female gender acts as an important risk factor for breast cancer but saying that males can’t get it is merely a misconception.
3- You can get breast cancer by touching it
No, this can never be the case.
Breast cancer is not the flu or cold that gets transferred by the spread of infectious organisms. You can never get it by getting in contact with the cancerous breast. The cause of breast cancer is on a cellular level. Many things can cause your breast tissues to divide abnormally. This uncontrolled division of breast cells in breast cancer.
So, to contract breast cancer, changes at the gene level are required.
4- Not having breast cancer in your genes mean that you won’t get it
This has nothing to do with reality. Many people believe that if no one in their family is suffering from breast cancer then it means they won’t be getting it.
However, genetics is not the sole factor in the development of breast cancer. Many other factors contribute to the onset and development of breast cancer.
So, not having it in your family doesn’t fit you but your gender and exposure to the triggers determine your susceptibility to breast cancer.
5- Only older women get it
Though most cases of breast cancer are seen in women, this doesn’t mean that it only affects older women. Older age is an important risk factor for the condition but according to the reported numbers, breast cancer cases are seen in women even when they are in their 20s.
Bottom Line!
Breast cancer is a common condition that mostly affects women. The condition is different and can vary from woman to woman.
However, the condition remains misunderstood in most cases. Following the right lifestyle practices and keeping an eye on your symptoms can help you to minimize your risk of breast cancer. In the case of breast cancer, self-diagnosis also plays an important role. So, make sure you take all these measures to live a healthy life.