Breast Cancer Myths Busted!

In the ever-changing world of stats about boob health, we consulted the experts to find out whats legit and whats not.

- Zinhlezonke Zikalala

Ah, October... The time of year when almost every tree is swathed in pink and the term “breast cancer” is in your timeline more often than a Kardashian. And while awareness is incredibly important – regular check-ups and a healthy lifestyle are key to combating cancer – a flurry of information also creates room for confusion. In the world of science, it can take years of research and studies on large numbers of people to get a clear picture of what can and can’t increase or decrease your risk.

That’s why you need to be extra careful where you get your information from. Here, we bust eight common myths and uncover the truth.

Myth #1

Younger women are becoming more and more susceptible.

Truth: The older you get, the more at risk you are for any cancer – not the other way round, says Dr Melissa Wallace, head of research at the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). “The majority of breast cancer patients in South Africa and abroad have typically been and still are women between the ages of 50 and 70 years,” says Dr Justus Apffelstaedt, a specialist surgeon with a particular interest in breast, thyroid and parathyroid health management. So why older women? It’s not entirely clear, but research has shown that it may be a result of the accumulation of age-associated changes in a biochemical process that helps control genes.

Myth # 2

Chemotherapy is the MVP of breast cancer treatments.