Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer. But despite its popularity, not everyone still knows what it is. Hence, many end up believing in myths.

There is danger to it as some of these myths could lead the person to postpone or cancel the treatment. Therefore, it’s important to know what these myths are because they can make or break one’s progress in beating cancer. The following are some of the common breast cancer myths:

Myth 1: Only women get breast cancer.

Since every mammal has mammary glands, no matter the size, men can have them too. The cancer normally develops on the cells around the ducts of your breast,and everyone—men and women with bigger or smaller breasts, can have them.

However, it is true that the number of women who suffer from this disease is far greater than the number of men who do but the mortality among men with breast cancer is also high. Doctors attribute this to men’s lack of information regarding breast cancer. Most of them believe they won’t get it, so they never get themselves tested.

Myth 2: It’s only genetic.

Although it can happen and for 5-10% of cancer patients it has, genetics isn’t the only factor to consider. There’s still so much speculation on what truly causes cancer but most researchers suggest that it’s combination of different factors like lifestyle, diet, and for some, genes.

Myth 3: Lumps mean breast cancer.

Neither lumps nor the lack of them can tell for sure whether you have breast cancer or not. You may be able to feel a lot of lumps when you conduct self-exams but the doctors may rule those lumps out as benign. There may also be times when there are no manifestations of lumps or pain but during a test, you may end up getting diagnosed with breast cancer.

Myth 4: Mammograms cause or worsen breast cancer.

To this day, mammograms are the trusted and recommended means of detection the doctors are using. In the test, the breast is compressed and then taken an x-ray of. Most believe that my compressing the breast and exposing it to radiation, you either get cancer or if you already have it, mammograms make it worse. Doctors defend this method by saying that compression doesn’t have any harmful effects, and you’re breasts are exposed to a minimal amounts of radiation, so it’s safe.

If you have hesitations or doubts with your breast condition, it’s best to consult a doctor or a cancer specialist especially if you suspect that it’s more than just benign lumps.