Thirty years ago, breast cancer was shrouded in mystery and wasn’t openly talked about.Today, better detection methods and innovative treatment options are making it possible for more women than ever to survive and thrive after diagnosis.Yet, in spite of all the advancements, myths still surround breast cancer.

No woman needs to stand alone when it comes to understanding breast cancer.It’s important to know the facts to help yourself and others who are facing this disease. Here are some of the most common myths and the realities you will hear regarding breast cancer:

MYTH: If the breast cancer is operated upon, the air “hitting it” will make it spread.

REALITY: Nothing could be farther from the truth. This myth dates back to the days when women presented for treatment with very advanced disease, that when they finally had surgery, they had a poor postoperative course. Today, even women with advanced breast cancer have markedly better prognoses because of all the advances we have made in treatment options.

MYTH: Women without a family history of breast cancer are not at risk.

REALITY:The majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no close relatives with this disease.Regardless of family history, discuss mammography guidelines and schedule regular screenings with your health provider.The biggest risk factors for breast cancer are being a woman and growing older.

MYTH: Breast cancer has become an epidemic in young women.

REALITY: Although all women are at risk for breast cancer, it is far more likely to occur in women ages 40 and over.Your chances of developing breast cancer go up the older you get.In fact, nearly 8 out of every 10 cases of breast cancer are found in women age 50 and older.

MYTH:Underarm antiperspirants and under wire bras cause breast cancer.

REALITY: This rumor has been spread rapidly by e-mail.There is no credible evidence that indicates that using antiperspirants or wearing any type of bra increases the risk of, much less causes, breast cancer.

MYTH:We’re losing the battle against breast cancer

REALITY: This is absolutely false.Slowly but surely, we’re defeating breast cancer. Since 1990 breast cancer death rates have declined by more than 2 percent each year.That number is even higher for women under age 50. In the next 10 years, there will be a 50% improvement in survival.

Why?Greater public awareness and advances in screening tests like mammography have led to more women being treated and many women who are at high risk being identified.Couple that with improved treatments and cutting edge medicines and the result is more women surviving breast cancer than ever before.

Despite this progress, however, breast cancer is still a major health concern.The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008 about 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the U.S. In addition to invasive breast cancer, carcinoma in situ will account for about 67,770 new cases this year. Approximately 40,480 women will die from breast cancer in 2008.

MYTH:Mammograms are unsafe, painful and can cause cancer.

REALITY: Mammograms don’t cause cancer.With today’s modern technology, radiation levels are low and not harmful.Also, modern mammography equipment is designed to minimize the degree of discomfort.Since breasts can be tender just before or after menstruation, women may prefer to schedule a mammogram at a different time.

MYTH:If a mammogram result comes back normal, there’s nothing to worry about until the next scheduled test.

REALITY: Mammography can detect cancer in some women at risk for breast cancer.The following guidelines are generally suggested, although these are subject to change and debate:

Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.

Clinical breast examination should be part of a periodic health exam, about every three years for women in their 20s and 30s, and every year for women 40 and older.

Breast self examination (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.Women should be told about the benefits and limitations of BSE and should report any breast changes to their health professional right away.

Women at increased risk (e.g., family history, genetic tendency, past breast cancer) should talk with their doctors about the benefits and limitations of starting mammography screening earlier, having additional tests (i.e., breast ultrasound and MRI), or having more frequent exams.

MYTH: If a lump is cancerous, mastectomy is the only option.

REALITY: At one time, mastectomy was thestandard therapy, but now many women have more than one choice.The combination of lump removal (lumpectomy) and radiation is performed more commonly. And the many treatment options are helping women live healthy, cancer-free lives.

MYTH: Only women get breast cancer.

REALITY: Breast cancer occurs primarily in women, but occasionally in men. Many people do not realize that men have breast tissue, and that it's possible for them to develop breast cancer.About 1,990 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men in the U.S. in 2008, and approximately 450 men will die from the disease.

MYTH: Having silicone breast implants increases your chance of breast cancer.

REALITY: Silicone breast implants can cause formation of scar tissue in the breast, but several studies have found that they do not increase breast cancer risk.

MYTH: An injury to the breast can cause breast cancer.

REALITY: Injury or trauma to the breast does not cause cancer. One reason for this myth is an injury may draw attention to a breast lump that had actually been present for some time.

MYTH: I’m not a doctor or a researcher.There’s nothing I can do to fight breast cancer.

REALITY:Breast cancer isn’t just fought in laboratories with test tubes.It’s also being fought on the streets of our own towns with sneakers.You can get involved with the fight against cancer by joining the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk held every October.The annual walk is the area’s largest breast cancer awareness event.For more information or to join call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org/makingstrides

MYTH:Milk products cause breast cancer.

REALITY:Milk and dairy products may actually lower young women’s breast cancer risk. A report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (Vol. 94, No. 17:1301-1311) found that depending upon whether a woman is premenopausal or postmenopausal, milk or dairy products may affect a woman’s breast cancer risk.

The study looked at the milk and calcium intake in the women’s diets, including whether they used calcium and vitamin D supplements, and how much they took. They also looked at the type of dairy products women consumed, such as low-fat milk versus whole mile, how much high-fat dairy food (such as ice cream, cream, butter and cheese) and fermented dairy food (such as sour cream, yogurt and cream cheese) the women ate.

Dairy products did not have any effect on breast cancer risk in the postmenopausal women. However, the authors reported there was a relationship between larger amounts of low-fat dairy food intake and lower breast cancer risk in premenopausal women.

However, just because a woman consumes high quantities of dairy products before menopause, which may decrease her breast cancer risk, doesn’t mean that her low-risk status will continue once she enters menopause.It’s not clear why milk and related nutrients should work differently in premenopausal women compared to post menopausal women when it comes to reducing the risk of breast cancer.

In conclusion, high intake of dairy products, especially low-fat dairy and skim/low-fat milk, may be associated with a modest reduction in the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women but not in post menopausal women. Further study regarding the relationship between dairy product consumption and breast cancer is warranted, with a specific focus on premenopausal women.

MYTH:Breast cancer is largely a preventable disease, yet prevention is almost never discussed.

REALITY:There is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer at this time.It is important to realize that IN SOME WOMEN, mammograms may identify precancerous findings. A woman’s best overall preventive health strategy is to reduce her known risk factors as much as possible by avoiding obesity and weight gain, increasing physical activity, and minimizing alcohol intake.

MYTH:Inflammatory breast cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer and most physicians and cancer organizations aren't aware of it.

REALITY:According to the American Cancer Society’s Director of Medical Content, Ted Gansler, MD, the existence of inflammatory breast cancer, a serious form of cancer, is not new, although a recent report (Trends in Inflammatory Breast Carcinoma Incidence and Survival: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program at the National Cancer Institute," JNCI, Vol. 97, No. 13, 966-975, July 6, 2005) suggests incidence may be increasing. An email that was widely circulated in June 2006 implies that cancer groups are unaware of the disease or have not done enough to raise awareness of it. The American Cancer Society’s Cancer Information Database (CID) and web site have included information about inflammatory breast cancer since those materials were first created in 1996. It is also important to note that the signs and symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer (such as awareness of redness or other changes in the skin of the breasts) are included in breast cancer educational brochures created and distributed by the American Cancer Society.

MYTH:Western medicine has failed to make us healthy, and, in fact, profit provides an incentive to keep us sick.

REALITY:As difficult and painful as they can be, the truth is that mainstream cancer treatments such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery have been scientifically proven to be effective for treating cancer. Cancer patients who choose alternative medicine instead of conventional cancer treatments are actually putting themselves at an enormous and unnecessary risk. They are giving up the only proven methods of treating their disease. Temporary delays or interruptions in conventional treatment can pose a dangerous risk to cancer patients because they can give the cancer more time to grow. Even when cancer has reached a stage where cure is not possible, it is important to remember that mainstream care can offer much in the way of comfort.

“Complementary” and “alternative” are terms used to describe a number of products, practices, and systems that are not part of mainstream (conventional, standard, or Western) medicine. The American Cancer Society considers complementary and alternative medicine to be different from each other. Complementary medicine is used along with mainstream medical care. Alternative medicine is used instead of standard medical treatment, often with serious consequences for the patient. Some complementary methods can also cause harm, but if carefully chosen and properly used, they might improve your quality of life.

People with cancer might consider alternative and complementary methods for a number of reasons. For some, conventional cancer treatment is hard to tolerate, so they find themselves looking for a less unpleasant approach. Other people are looking for ways to relieve the side effects of treatment without having to take more medicine. Some don't trust mainstream medicine and feel that with alternative medicine they are more in control of their bodies. The decision to use alternative or complementary methods is an important one, and it is yours to make. The American Cancer Society has a number of resources and information to help you think through the issues and make the most informed and safest decision possible. To get a better understanding of what is and is not considered to be effective modes of treatment, visit this website: http://www.quackwatch.org/index.html, or visit www.cancer.org.