Page 23 - Florida Sentinel 10-22-21

Health
Even though breast cancer has been around for years and has affected millions of women, there’s still a lot of misinformation going around about the disease. Some of these myths have significantly affected how people handle their health and think about their risks of developing breast cancer. Fortunately, when you know the facts it’s easier to make the right decisions about your health.
Breast cancer myths:
Myth # 1: You Don’t Have To Worry If No-One In Your Family Has Had It
It’s true that having a ge- netic predisposition for breast cancer can raise your risk of developing the dis- ease. However, that doesn’t mean people without a fam- ily history of breast cancer can’t get it. In fact, several people with no known risk for cancer have been diag- nosed with it. On the same
note, being at risk doesn’t mean that you will develop the disease either. Even if you’ve tested positive for the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes, it doesn’t mean it will happen.
Myth # 2: Breast Cancer Is Caused By Deodorants And Anti-Perspirants
There is no scientific evi- dence that antiperspirants and deodorants can cause breast cancer. For some time, people have claimed that the aluminum-based in- gredients in these products are linked to cancer. How- ever, this has not been proven.
Myth # 3: All You Need To Do Is Eat Well And Exer- cise
While a healthy diet and exercise certainly play a role in remaining healthy, it’s not enough to ensure that you never develop breast cancer. Even as you eat healthily, avoid cigarettes, reduce your alcohol consumption, and
exercise regularly, don’t for- get your annual mammo- grams.
Myth # 4: If You De- tected The Cancer Early, There’s Nothing To Worry About
Of course, early detection means you can get treated quickly, which drastically re- duces the risk of your cancer progressing. However, that doesn’t mean your cancer can’t recur. It’s important to remain vigilant so you can catch the signs early all the time.
Myth # 5: Too Much Caf- feine Can Cause Breast Can- cer
On the contrary, research has shown that caffeine in moderation can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. There may be other issues involved with caffeine consumption though so make sure you have all the information.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 11-B