21. 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.
Continue reading ‘25 Breast Cancer Myths and Misunderstandings (21-25)’

11. 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.
Continue reading ‘25 Breast Cancer Myths and Misunderstandings (11-15)’

1. Myth: Only women with a family history of breast cancer are at risk.

Reality: 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.
Continue reading ‘25 Breast Cancer Myths and Misunderstandings (1-5)’