Battling weight to battle cancer

Unfortunately for women, weight gain causes not only a tighter waistband but also an increase in hormone levels, particularly estrogen. A recent studied by the Institute of Cancer Research reported that among women fighting breast cancer, obese women usually have higher estrogen levels than women who are not obese. Since many breast cancers need estrogen to grow, doctors tend use hormone-blocking treatments. Treatment may include a drug such as an aromatase inhibitor, which is a hormone-suppressing drug. It is possible however; weight loss through exercise and nutrition also may be beneficial when attempting to reduce estrogen levels in breast cancer patients and those at risk for breast cancer.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) encourages regular, intentional physical activity or exercise to reduce the risk of breast cancer and other cancers. Regular exercise also may reduce the risk of other diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes. The ACS guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes (two and one-half hours) of moderately intense exercise/activity per week, 75 minutes (one hour and fifteen minutes) of vigorously intense exercise/activity per week or a combination of both moderate and vigorous exercise spread throughout a seven-day period.

Types of exercise

Women’s health and wellness routines must include some levels of exercise to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, especially when fighting breast cancer. Incorporating moderate and even intense exercise into a daily routine doesn’t have to be costly or stressful.

Moderate exercise should raise your heart rate, cause you to sweat yet you should still be able to hold a conversation without gasping for breath. Inexpensive ways to exercise moderately include taking a brisk/fast walk through your neighborhood or local park, pushing a lawn mower or riding a bicycle.

Vigorous exercise makes you breathe harder and it may be difficult to hold a conversation while exercising. Examples include jogging, playing a game of basketball, soccer or tennis and swimming laps (not leisurely swimming, concentrated strokes to raise the heart rate.)

Gardening, playing with your kids and household chores such as vacuuming and mopping are other ways simply to get moving. Every time you get up and do something active, you are helping your overall health. Reducing sedimentary habits can help fight weight gain as well.

In addition, it’s important to remember to eat nutritionally balanced meals that do not exceed recommended daily caloric intake. If you’re not sure what your caloric intake should be, talk to your doctor. Before beginning any exercise routine it is important to talk first to your doctor to determine what is best for your health.

In the area of breast cancer detection, two new developments can help in the area of early detection. Breast cancer early detection can make all the difference in a patient’s outcome; when breast cancer is caught at the localized stage, the five-year survival rate is 98%. Part of early detection is knowing whether you have an increased risk for breast cancer. For this reason, a number of women are opting for genetic testing to see whether they carry the markers for increased breast cancer risk. However, at this time, direct to consumer DNA tests are, for many people, prohibitively expensive, costing between $100 and $1500. Researchers at Johns Hopkins performed a focus group to find out what women were looking for in direct to consumer tests. Results revealed that women would be willing to buy tests that ranged in price from $10 to $20, and that they would be willing to test their children for increased risk of the disease. These findings can be used to make direct to consumer genetic testing more easily available.

In other detection news, with the successful completion of the mapping of the human genome, researchers are now focusing on proteins. By studying protein microarrays, doctors feel that they will be better able to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. Until recently, this was a dauntingly time consuming process because of the need to isolate proteins. However, a new technique which does not require that the proteins be purified can speed up the process, allowing doctors to learn more quickly. Accuracy of the program is high; in a recent study where 28 antigens were identified, doctors were able to identify cancer with 80 to 100 percent accuracy.

In the area of treatment, a recent clinical trial on a cancer vaccine has had promising results. When women who had had cancer before were given the vaccine, their rate of recurrence dropped to around 10%, down from 18% without the vaccine over a period of 22 months. This represents a 43% drop in reoccurrence. Short term side effects of the vaccine were minimal, and included flu-like symptoms, redness at the injection area and bone pain. The vaccine works by teaching the body to recognize HER2, the oncoprotein that promotes tumor growth, as an invader.

According to The American Cancer Society, a large number of women’s health studies have suggested that a diet low in animal fats can lead to lower rates of breast cancer. Cancer rates are lower in parts of the world where people eat less animal fat. Additionally, in tests on rodents, higher fat diets led to higher incidence of mammary cancers. Seek out low-fat protein options to keep your fat intake within recommended guidelines. For instance, opt for a lentil salad or vegetarian black bean chili for dinner. Try tilapia for an affordable, low-fat mild fish entree. Pick lean cuts when eating red meat, and take the skin off chicken. Preliminary studies seem to indicate that the younger you are when you adopt a low-fat diet, the more cancer protection it provides.

While no clear cause and effect has been established between eating fruit and vegetable and breast cancer risk reduction, it is well-known that eating plenty of vegetables is necessary for proper women’s nutrition. Vegetables are low in fat, but high in filling fiber. Aim for five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Pick fruits and vegetables with colors through the rainbow to make sure you are getting a wide array of nutrients. Think yellow peppers, deep green kale, pale eggplant and vibrant red berries. Keeping cut veggies on the top shelf of your fridge makes them an easy snack.

One of the clearest dietary risks for cancer is alcohol consumption. Women who drink have a higher incidence of breast cancer than those who don’t. If you do imbibe, limit it to one alcoholic drink per day. This allows you to take advantage of the wellness benefits of beverages like red wine while limiting your cancer risk. Also, if you drink, be sure to consume plenty of folate-rich foods like fortified cereals and leafy greens. Although scientists don’t understand why, folate seems to help reduce cancer risk among women who drink.

Pursuing a healthy diet not only cuts down breast cancer risks, it helps reduce other health risk such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Plus, a good diet leaves you feeling more energetic and provides a general sense of wellness. Commit to maintaining a healthy diet to cut your breast cancer risk and enjoy better health overall.

Next Wednesday, October 19^th we’ll be at El Vato Tequila and Taco Bar in Mary Brickell Village. Join us at 7:00 p.m. for complimentary margaritas and light bites until 8:00 p.m. El Vato is located at 1010 S. Miami Avenue. This event is sponsored by House of Boho Jewelry and MIA Shoes.

From there, head over to Blue Martini at Mary Brickell Village where beginning at 9:00 p.m., you’ll receive a complimentary cocktail with your donation to WBHI!

On Saturday, October 22, The Shore Club is hosting the Miami Beach Pink Tape Party, sponsored by NUVO and Venge Media. Donate $10 to WBHI and receive a complimentary NUVO cocktail!

We will be giving the B4 Pink T Shirt out at the event. At the event, there will be T-Shirts for a donation of $10 as well as the headbands and wristbands for a donation and canisters with our logo for donations – the students at the high school will be running this project. 

The Palm Beach PINK patrol car

We are also happy to share that the Palm Beach Sheriffs Office’s Pink Patrol SUV will be out from 7pm to 9pm in support of our event and Breast Cancer awareness and prevention!!

See the links for more info:http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/the-sheriff’s-office-has-a-pink-car-to-raise-awareness-of-cancerhttp://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_c_palm_beach_county/palm-beach-county-sheriff’s-office-goes-pink-  

The game is located at:

Homecoming Game:
Friday, September 30th , game starts at 7pm
Palm Beach Gardens Community High School
4245 Holly DrivePalm Beach Gardens, FL 33140
http://www.palmbeachgardenshs.org/ 

We will also have flyers for the October 6th fundraising event in Palm Beach Gardens – if you know anyone who is interested in going to that Chili’s from 11am to 11pm, 10% of all sales will be donated to our mission!  But all attendees must have the flyer with them when they purchase their food. 

 The Palm Beach Sheriff Office pink patrol car will also be out at the Chili’s from 11am to 2pm and WBHI Staff will be joining them with a table and information- attached is the flyer to share!

Please feel free to call Stephanie at 786-277-7305 or Emilia at 786-378-2650, should you get lost  . . .   Looking forward to seeing  you on Friday!!

B4Pink socks! Look for them on the Gators team Friday!

The color of the night will be pink as the Palm Beach Gardens High School kicks off Breast Cancer Awareness month with the Women’s Breast Health Initiative, Florida Affiliate (WBHI) at the Gators Homecoming football game Friday, September 30.

It is a way to enjoy great Gator football, and support the fight against breast cancer.  It is also a wonderful opportunity for the community to raise money to support WBHI’s door-to-door outreach in the area. The football team will be wearing pink socks, and the students will don B4PINK t-shirts, headbands, and wristbands to raise awareness about the B4Pink movement and the WBHI.

The B4Pink movement was created by WBHI to extend the awareness of the importance of early detection and healthy living as a way to prevent and beat cancer. One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Even more disturbing, approximately 40,000 women will die of breast cancer this year alone. With so many women at risk, it is crucial to promote early detection any way possible. The B4PINK movement targets women before they are diagnosed with breast cancer

Palm Beach Gardens High School chose WBHI as a partner because of their active commitment to women in South Florida communities. The school is promoting the partnership and funds raised go toward the planned 2012 door-to-door outreach campaign in West Palm Beach neighborhoods.

Because there is no cure for breast cancer, WBHI’s mission is to reduce the incidence of undetected, untreated breast cancer among the some of the most vulnerable in communities: uninsured, underserved women. Teams of volunteers go door to door in targeted neighborhoods providing breast health awareness, education, free mammograms, referrals for low cost screening, and assistance to those participants requiring additional screening and treatment.

If you can’t make Friday’s game, you can still help the school support the Women’s Breast Health Initiative’s door to door outreach campaigns. To donate to WBHI and help expand outreach in Palm Beach Gardens, visit http://www.flbreasthealth.com or call 866.315.7711.

For more information on the B4Pink Movement supporting the Women’s Breast Health Initiative, visit www.b4pink.com.

The following tips for women are meant to help you protect your breast health while monitoring any changes . This way, problems can be caught early. Early detection has been shown to be a key factor in surviving a breast cancer diagnosis.

You’re In Your 20s

The habits you develop in your 20s can help reduce your lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. 

1. Get a clinical breast exam and become breast aware. A clinical breast exam is a physical breast exam performed by a medical professional. During your 20s, a clinical breast exam and discussion about your overall health and personal risk factors is a good way to take stock of what’s “normal” for you. The American Cancer Society recommends that women receive a clinical breast exam every three years in their 20s and 30s. Some doctors consider breast self-exams optional, but it’s a smart idea to be familiar with your breasts so that you will notice any small changes which you’ll want to bring to the attention of your doctor.
2. Find out if you are high risk. If breast cancer runs in your family, you’ll want to discuss with your doctor a personal plan for understanding your risk. For example, you may want to consider being tested for the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 gene mutations, which are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
3. Drink less alcohol. Dr. Anne McTiernan, the author of “Breast Fitness: An Optimal Exercise and Health Plan for Reducing Your Risk of Breast Cancer” advocates no more than one drink per day. Alcohol use increases your risk for breast cancer. McTiernan notes that one drink a day does not mean you can abstain all week and drink a week’s worth of drinks on Saturday night.
4. New moms should breastfeed for at least six months. Some studies suggest that breastfeeding may slightly lower breast cancer risk, specifically for women who breast feed for one and a half to two years.  A study released by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center showed breastfeeding six months or longer reduced breast cancer risk by 20 percent.
5. Exercise and eat right! Exercising at least 30 minutes per day, whether it’s by walking, biking, jogging, dancing or any other physical activity can reduce your breast cancer risk by about 20 percent. Plus, it’s a habit that is good for your bones, joints, heart and overall health. Eating healthy means limiting your intake of red meat to four ounces per day on average and avoiding processed meats like sausage and bologna. In addition, the National Cancer Institute has for years recommended eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

You’re In Your 30s

Although breast cancer rates for women in their 30s are still pretty low, it’s time to start monitoring your breasts for changes. Cultivating breast health awareness is key in this decade. In addition to continuing the healthy habits you cultivated in your 20s, there are a few more things you can consider: 

1. Get a clinical breast exam and become breast aware. Continuing to receive clinical breast exams every three years while in your 30s is part of the American Cancer Society’s early detection guidelines.
2. Evaluate your risk to determine a plan of action. Monitor your own breasts for changes and report any concerns to your doctor. If you’re in a high risk group due to family history, your doctor may want you to start getting annual mammograms or MRIs. Additionally, your doctor can
3. Keep stress in check. A recent study in Israel of women under 45 found that exposure to several stressful life events, such as divorce or death of parents, was associated with breast cancer. Cultivating happiness and optimism boosts your natural defense against illness. Simply adopting a “don’t worry, be happy” mantra won’t protect you from cancer, but a positive outlook will help you stick to all the other good habits you’ve developed, contributing to an overall healthy lifestyle.

You’re In Your 40s

When you hit 40, you really need to start being vigilant about your health. At this point in life, breast cancer rates start to increase. In addition to limiting alcohol, eating right, exercising and limiting stress, remember to do the following:

1. Schedule an annual mammogram and clinical exam. The American Cancer Society recommends that women age 40 and older get a mammogram and a clinical breast exam every year. Also, stay familiar with your own breasts: If you notice any changes, tell your doctor about them immediately. Chances are good that any changes you notice, such as fibrocystic breast changes, are harmless, but it’s still essential to have anything new or unusual checked out.
2. Avoid unnecessary exposure to cancer-causing substances. This includes radiation and chemicals. Make sure that any physician who orders an x-ray for you, especially high dose types like CT scans, knows how many other xrays you’ve had. Unless it’s an emergency situation, you should ask if there are alternative examinations for your situation, such as an ultrasound or MRI. Your doctor will help you weigh the relative risk of momentary exposure to radiation versus not having an X-ray or CT scan that may be medically necessary. Scientists have identified over 200 potential breast carcinogens. Learn about them through the American Cancer Society’s analysis. Opt for foods and products containing mostly natural ingredients.

If You’re In Your 50s and Over

As menopause hits, the risk of developing breast cancer rises. The average age of a woman who receives a breast cancer diagnosis is 62, which is why women in their 60s need to be more vigilant than ever about breast health. Taking care of your health beginning at age 50 is critical to reducing your risk of developing breast cancer. In addition to continuing to receive annual mammograms, eating right and staying active, there are a few additional habits you can pick up to reduce your risk of a breast cancer diagnosis.

1. Avoid alcohol as much as possible.  A recent National Cancer Institute study of postmenopausal women found that women who had one to two small drinks a day were 32 percent more likely to develop the most common type of breast cancer. Women who had three drinks or more had as high as 51 percent increased risk.
2. Maintain a healthy body weight. A healthy weight is a body mass index (BMI) of 25 percent or less. Research has shown that being overweight or obese (specifically in post menopausal women) increases your risk, even if you put the weight on as an adult. Additionally, overweight women had lower breast cancer survival rates and a greater chance of more aggressive disease than average weight or underweight women.
3. Avoid or limit hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Hormone replacement therapy definitely increases breast cancer risk, although for women with major menopausal issues, doctors at the Fred Hutchison Cancer recommend limited courses of HRT for no more than five years.
4. Up your vitamin D intake. Although the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D is 400 IUs, some researchers think that higher levels – 1,000 IUs a day – is a convenient and low cost way to reduce breast cancer risk. To check your levels of vitamin D, ask your doctor for a blood test. He or she will help you determine if a supplement would be beneficial for you.

No matter what your age, the habits you develop to stay healthy also help reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. While eating right, exercising and following the guidelines for early detection don’t guarantee that you won’t develop breast cancer, they are good habits to improve your life overall and limit unnecessary increases to your breast cancer risk.

While there are several known risk factors for breast cancer – obesity, alcohol use and genetic factors to name a few – some risk factors are still being researched. Scientists are studying the connection between chemicals and breast cancer. Though many studies are inconclusive, there have been some important findings about everyday products and their relationship to breast cancer risk.

Women expose themselves to chemicals and toxins every day through products they put on their bodies, cleaners they use in and around the home, chemicals they breathe on the job, and even the foods they eat! Now, eating certain foods or cleaning the house is not going to be the sole reason a woman develops breast cancer, but chemicals may increase the risk of abnormal cell development, which may or may not result in cancer.

Prevention is all about making choices that reduce breast cancer risk. Let’s take a closer look at some everyday chemicals and how they relate to breast cancer.

Cigarette Smoke and Breast Cancer

A number of studies have examined the possible connection between smoking and breast cancer. While the majority of these studies have found that smoking is actually not a breast cancer cause and doesn’t increase risk, a few studies have identified a relationship between the two. In 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General’s report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, found that smoking was linked with not only breast cancer, but also a diagnosis of breast cancer at an unusually young age — younger than age 55. Both mainstream and secondhand smoke contain chemicals that, in high concentrations, cause breast cancer in rodents. Chemicals in tobacco smoke reach breast tissue and are found in breast milk. In any case, this possible link to breast cancer is yet another reason to avoid smoking and/or secondhand smoke.

BPA and Breast Cancer

Bisphenol-A, or BPA, is a chemical found in many plastic products, including baby bottles, nipples, and pacifiers. It’s already been established that BPA affects the endocrine system and hormones, and now studies are showing that BPA may also be associated with increased breast cancer risk. Research studies have shown that exposure to BPA in babies led to increased breast cell growth and some loss of normal cell death, which could allow abnormal cells to grow. As research continues to point to the harmful effects of BPA on humans, it’s best to avoid them. Many manufacturers have stopped using BPA. Look for plastics labeled “BPA-free” to limit your exposure to this dangerous chemical.

Pesticides and Breast Cancer

Many pesticides have properties similar to estrogen, which allows breast cancer cells to replicate rapidly and the disease to spread. It seems probable therefore that these chemicals could increase breast cancer risk, although studies have been unable to definitively prove the connection. One study showed that older women exposed to the pesticide DDT and similar compounds were slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than women who weren’t exposed. Researchers couldn’t conclude that the pesticides are a breast cancer cause, but they did find that continued exposure to pesticides along with other risk factors for breast cancer could increase the risk of developing the disease.

Parabens and Breast Cancer

Parabens are preservatives found in cosmetics, skin care products and antiperspirants. They have been linked to breast cancer because a small study cited by the American Cancer Society found parabens in breast cancer cells. The study could not prove that the parabens caused the cells to develop into tumors or whether other factors besides use of cosmetics could have led to the presence of parabens. Further study is needed to prove or rule out parabens as a possible risk factor or cause of breast cancer, and parabens are not considered a health risk at this time. Women seeking to limit parabens in their beauty routine should look for products labeled “paraben free.”

Protecting Yourself

Even after decades of research, no one can definitively answer the question “What causes breast cancer?” Many of the studies being conducted regarding chemical exposure and breast cancer risk don’t have concrete answers yet. Prevention, simply put, is about limiting potential risk factors. Many of the chemicals listed are harmful in other ways, so limiting exposure to them is a good idea, even if the breast cancer link is in question. Furthermore, if you are at an increased risk of breast cancer based on known factors, you may want to take extra precaution to avoid being around these potentially toxic chemicals to protect yourself from breast cancer as much as possible.

A compression sleeve used in lympedema treatment

New York City, July 27, 2011 –

An expert panel issued a white paper examining new evidence that shows early detection and intervention hold the greatest promise for reducing breast cancer-related lymphedema, which affects up to one-third of the 180,000 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients annually and 2.3 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. The Avon Foundation for Women, in partnership with the Lymphatic Research Foundation and the National Lymphedema Network, convened a group of leading scientists, clinicians and advocates in April 2011 to discuss recent advances in the early detection and early intervention of upper extremity lymphedema. The expert panel produced several recommendations, which are shared in a white paper released today, Recent Advances in Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Detection and Treatment.

 Breast cancer-related lymphedema is a chronic, debilitating disorder that may occur following surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy that causes limb swelling and chronic inflammation. According to the white paper, monitoring for lymphedema onset in breast cancer patients is essential—and medically necessary—and should include capturing baseline arm volume measurements prior to treatment and follow-up measurements at regular intervals once breast cancer treatment is completed.  By the time lymphedema is visually detectable, it has already progressed to advanced stages. Regular surveillance, using tools such as perometry or bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS), in the years following breast cancer treatment can reduce the development of irreversible lymphedema and improve quality of life.

“Lymphedema can have devastating physical and emotional consequences for breast cancer survivors,” said Marc Hurlbert, executive director of the Avon Foundation for Women Breast Cancer Crusade. “The expert panel’s recommendations for lymphedema care can dramatically change the lives of breast cancer patients. Early detection of lymphedema can identify sub-clinical lymphedema at a time when simple, cost-effective interventions can be used to prevent it from evolving into advanced stages of lymphedema and reduce the condition’s severity.”

The white paper recommends that breast cancer survivors be closely monitored for the development of lymphedema and learn how to reduce their risk of developing the disorder, such as by recognizing the physical triggers (e.g. cuts or burns on the fingers) that may transform the disease from latent to active and by maintaining meticulous skin care hygiene and a healthy body weight. Recent studies in weight lifting, exercise and weight loss also have demonstrated a benefit in preventing lymphedema: stretching, aerobics and arm and leg weight lifting resulted in fewer flare-ups among patients with lymphedema and reduced the chance of developing the condition among at-risk patients by 70%. 

“The Lymphatic Research Foundation (LRF) and our National Lymphatic Disease and Lymphedema Registry (NLDLR) were pleased to partner with the Avon Foundation for Women in co-sponsoring this important conference,” said Jacqueline Reinhard, executive director of the Lymphatic Research Foundation.  “Publication of the resulting White Paper – Recent Advances in Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Detection and Treatment – provides a much-needed resource for the many patients living with lymphedema, as well as the researchers and treatment professionals involved in this field.”

At the Avon Foundation symposium, the National Lymphedema Network (NLN) also shared its recent position paper on lymphedema screening and treatment. The NLN’s position paper recommends all breast cancer patients receive pre- and post-treatment measurements on both arms, as well as consistent measurements throughout their treatment, and use bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) or infrared perometry as alternatives to a tape measure. These precautions have proven to reduce the occurrence of false negative and false positive results which could be obtained by using a tape measure.

For more information about lymphedema or to download Recent Advances in Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Detection and Treatment or the National Lymphedema Network’s recent white paper, please visit www.avonfoundation.org/programs-and-events/lymphedema-information.html.

Excerpted from Health.com

1. Myth: Only women with a family history of breast cancer are at risk.
Reality: ALL women are at risk for breast cancer.  According to the American Cancer Society, roughly 70% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors for the disease. But the family-history risks are these: If a first-degree relative (a parent, sibling, or child) has had or has breast cancer, your risk of developing the disease approximately doubles. Having two first-degree relatives with the disease increases your risk even more.

2. Myth: Wearing an underwire bra increases your risk of getting breast cancer.
Reality: Claims that underwire bras compress the lymphatic system of the breast, causing toxins to accumulate and cause breast cancer, have been widely debunked as unscientific. The consensus is that neither the type of bra you wear nor the tightness of your underwear or other clothing has any connection to breast cancer risk.

3. Myth: Wearing antiperspirant increases your risk of getting breast cancer.
Reality: The American Cancer Society discredits this rumor, but admits that more research is needed. One small study did stumble on traces of parabens in a tiny sample of breast cancer tumors. Parabens, used as preservatives in some antiperspirants, have weak estrogen-like properties, but the study in question made no cause-and-effect connection between parabens and breast cancer, nor did it conclusively identify the source of the parabens found in tumors.

4. Myth: Overweight women have the same breast cancer risk as other women.
Reality: Being overweight or obese does increase your breast cancer risk—especially if you’re past menopause and/or you gained the weight later in life. 

5. Myth: Small-breasted women have less chance of getting breast cancer.
Reality: There’s no connection between the size of your breasts and your risk of getting breast cancer. Very large breasts may be harder to examine than small breasts, with clinical breast exams—and even mammograms and MRIs—more difficult to conduct. But all women, regardless of breast size, should commit to routine screenings and checkups.

6. Myth: Breast cancer always comes in the form of a lump.
Reality: A lump may indicate breast cancer (or one of many benign breast conditions), but women should also be on the alert for other kinds of changes that may be signs of cancer. These include swelling; skin irritation or dimpling; breast or nipple pain; nipple retraction (turning inward); redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin; or a discharge other than breast milk.

Women with a rare type of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) rarely have a breast lump. Symptoms of IBC include swelling, redness, itchiness, or warmth in the breast; tenderness or pain; a change in the nipple, such as retraction; skin that appears thick and pitted like an orange peel or with ridges and small bumps; an area of the breast that looks bruised; or swollen lymph nodes under the arm. Doctors encourage women to report any changes that they notice in their breasts.

7. Myth: Your father’s family history of breast cancer doesn’t affect your risk as much as your mother’s.
Reality: Your father’s family history of breast cancer is just as important as your mother’s in understanding your risk. But to find out about the risk stemming from your father’s side of the family, you need to look primarily at the women; while men do get breast cancer, women are more vulnerable to it. Associated cancers in men (such as early-onset prostate or colon cancer) on either side are also important to factor in when doing a full family-tree risk assessment.

8. Myth: Caffeine causes breast cancer.
Reality: No causal connection has been found between drinking caffeine and getting breast cancer; in fact, some research suggests that caffeine may actually lower your risk. So far it’s inconclusive whether breast soreness may be linked to caffeine.

9. Myth: If your mammography report is negative, there is nothing else to worry about.
Reality: Despite their importance for breast cancer screening and diagnosis, mammograms fail to detect around 10% to 20% of breast cancers. Some women have discovered abnormalities through breast self exams. Breast self exams are an option for women starting in their 20s.

10. Myth: Annual mammograms expose you to so much radiation that they increase your risk of cancer.
Reality: While it’s true that radiation is used in mammography, the amount is so small that any associated risks are tiny when compared to the huge preventive benefits reaped from the test. Mammograms can detect lumps well before they can be felt or otherwise noticed, and the earlier that lumps are caught, the better one’s chances for survival. The American Cancer Society recommends that all women age 40 and older receive a screening mammogram every year.