The Truth About Your Boobs

As you may have guessed by the pink t-shirts, pink ribbons, and pink yogurt lids floating around campus, the month of October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. NBCAM was originally created for the purpose of raising breast cancer awareness, educating individuals about the disease, and providing greater access to services. However, in a recent blog called Cancer in my Thirties, the author sheds a light on a phenomenon called “pinkwashing”, where cancer awareness efforts have deviated from its original purpose and spiraled into a pointless and ineffective fad instead.

For years, large corporations have participated in breast cancer promotions by enticing customers to buy pink trinkets, such as key chains, pens, t-shirts, and water bottles. By purchasing these items, many well-intentioned people think that they are doing something to help “cure” breast cancer, but in reality, most of the money does not even end up going to charity. While the commercialization of pink products may bring attention to breast cancer, it is not helping the cause. 

Remember those cryptic yet provocative statuses that would pop up all over Facebook during the month of October? “I like it on the kitchen counter” some wrote. “I like it on my bed” said others, referring to where they like to place their purse. Many others played the “color game”, where they updated their statuses with the color of their bra. Facebook games are just one of the many silly tactics that ineffectively raise breast cancer awareness – rather than focusing on the issue at hand, these games only help women gain attention for themselves.

This year women have set out to do it again. On October 13th, “National No-Bra Day” was born. While women pranced around without a bra in attempt to “spread breast cancer awareness”, this campaign did anything but that.

So put your bra back on and disengage yourself from the “pinkwashing” frenzy. Focus, instead, on how you can actually raises awareness and how you can protect yourself from this life-altering disease. In our effort to shed some light on the truth about breast cancer, we present to you the following breast cancer myths and ways you can combat these common misconceptions. 

Myth: Mammograms can cause breast cancer

A mammogram (x-ray of the breast) requires such small dosages of radiation that the risk of harm from radiation exposure is extremely low. The benefits of a mammogram almost always outweigh the potential harm from radiation exposure.

Myth: I’m too young to worry about breast cancer

The chances of developing breast cancer does generally increases with age; however, women can be susceptible to breast cancer at any age. Thus, women are encouraged have a clinical breast exam every three years starting from their 20s and have a mammogram every year or so starting from age 40.

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

Although women with direct relatives are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, roughly 70% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors for the disease.

Myth: Smaller-breasted women have less chance of getting breast cancer

There is absolutely no correlation between the size of your breasts and your risk of getting breast cancer. Small-breasted women are just as likely to develop breast cancer as large-breasted women.

Myth: Breast cancer always comes in the form of a lump

Although a lump may indicate breast cancer, women should also be on the lookout for other symptoms, such as swelling, skin irritation, pain, redness, and discharge. The sure way to tell if you have breast cancer is through a mammogram, which can detect cancer even if there are no physical symptoms.

Myth: My mammography was normal, so I don’t have to worry about breast cancer

About 10%-20% of mammography results are actually wrong. This means that it is important for women to also have clinical breast exams every year in addition to annual mammograms. Doctors will look at previous years’ mammograms to assess changes in the breast over time.

Myth: There is little you can do to prevent breast cancer

Regular exercise, a healthy diet, lower alcohol consumption, and regular clinical exams and check ups can lower your risk of developing breast cancer. It is also important to educate yourself, have regular checkups, and be aware of your personal risks, habits, and family history.