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Cancer Research
and A number of Puget Sound hospitals and clinics offer programs that specialize in the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer. Evergreen
Community Health Care Cancer Center Kirkland |
Ten Myths About Breast and Ovarian Cancer 1. Ovarian cancer is a rare form of cancer. Per the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, Ovarian cancer is a serious and under-recognized threat to women's health. Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women 2. None of my relatives had breast cancer so I won't get it either. Per Dr. Anne McTiernan of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, at least 80% of breast cancer patients do not have a family history of breast cancer. "So it's imperative that all women receive regular mammogram and clinical breast exam screening, with the interval depending on age and risk for breast cancer." 3. My mother got breast cancer so I will definitely get breast cancer. Dr. McTiernan comments "while having a close family member who had breast cancer does increase risk, it is not a guarantee that you will get breast cancer if your mother or sister had breast cancer." 4. A lump is the only indication of breast cancer. Dr. Julie R. Gralow of the University of Washington Medical Center points out that not all breast cancers present as lumps. "All changes in the breast, which can include skin and nipple changes, lumps, thickening, etc, must be evaluated and worked up". 5. A pap smear will detect ovarian cancer. No, per the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, a pap smear, while essential to detect some other kinds of cancer, will not detect ovarian cancer. 6. Breast cancer usually strikes young women. According to Dr. McTiernan, " Breast cancer is most common in older women. The average age at which women get a diagnosis is 62 years." However, young women do get breast cancer. Urge your doctor, regardless of your age, to take appropriate precautionary steps, and never be afraid to seek a second opinion. 7. More women die of breast cancer than of heart disease. Dr. Christine Oman, Section Head of the Center for Women's Health at Virginia Mason Medical Center explains, "over the course of their lives, about half of women die of heart disease. At age 40, the risk of dying from breast cancer in the next 20 years is 1/128. At age 50, it is 1/78. At age 45, risk of death from heart disease in the next 20 years is 1 in 42. 8. Hormone replacement is all bad or all good. Dr. Oman says, "It is important to discuss with your provider your individual risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, and breast cancer to determine whether hormone replacement therapy is likely to benefit or not. It is a very individual decision." 9. Alcohol consumption doesn't affect my risk for breast cancer. Dr. Oman cautions "many women don't realize the impact of alcohol intake on breast cancer. It turns out that 10 grams of alcohol daily increased breast cancer risk by 40% in one study. That is a 4 oz glass of wine, or about half of what most people think of as "a glass of wine each evening with dinner." One bottle of beer or one shot of hard liquor are also 10 gms of alcohol." 10. There is nothing I can do to reduce my risk of breast cancer. Dr. Rick Clarfeld, a respected breast cancer surgeon with the PolyClinic comments "we believe that women who engage in four or more hours a week of aerobic exercise and eat a low fat diet—ideally less than 10% of total calories from fat—can reduce their risk for breast cancer." MORE:
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