misconceptions about breast cancer, how it works and what can happen when someone is diagnosed with it. Many times a myth gets heard before a fact for example:
Myth: Most women who have breast cancer have a family history of breast cancer. This information is false seeing as though only 15% to 20% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of it.
Myth: You have to decide on a treatment option immediately after you are diagnosed. This statement is not applicable because yes you want to find treatment fast to stop any growths or spreading of the cancer but finding the best treatment option for you and your body is the most important. This requires extensive research and working alongside your doctor.
Even with all the misconceptions, there are facts about breast cancer that are important to know.
Fact: The risk of breast cancer increases with age. Fifty percent of breast cancer patients are women over 60. This is a true fact that many people are probably not aware of. Though anyone can get breast cancer, this disease is primarily a disease of older women.
RELATED: Navigating Breast Cancer: Understanding Your Treatment Options
Why It’s Important To Know The Truth
Knowing the truth about breast cancer can save a life. If you know how breast cancer works and most of its subcategories, then you can learn how to navigate it better. Learning what stage you or someone you know may have will help you determine which treatment options work best for that stage of cancer. This will also help you with some do’s and don’ts on what you should be consuming with your diet, how you should be exercising, what to expect during treatment and more.
Talking to your doctor, going online and finding proper and accurate research and reaching out to support groups and organizations are all ways to find the correct answers you may be looking for. Remember, though that there are myths out there about breast cancer so paying attention to the facts is more important.