“Am I going to die from breast cancer within the next 10 years?” The question is tormenting many women these days. According to results of the latest opinion poll, 98% of women overestimate the threat of breast cancer. Below are some of the commonest myths about the disease.
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Myth No 1: Breast cancer is the most lethal disease affecting women
Wrong. The mortality rate among women affected by cardiovascular diseases is 8 times greater. In actuality, breast cancer is the sixth biggest killer on list, next to pneumonia and flu.
AIDS and accidents kill more women under 45 than breast cancer does. However, breast cancer has become the most frightening disease to young women who fear losing their sex appeal after losing one of their breasts to cancer. Meanwhile, those women are likely to faint once they hear the word “mastectomy” (surgical removal of a breast) being mentioned yet they keep smoking; they ignore seat belts, and practice unsafe sex.
Myth No 2: breast cancer mortality rate is on the increase
Wrong. Breast cancer incidence rate has increased by comparison to the 1940s though its mortality rate stands at the same level. There is also a downward trend in the mortality rate. For example, the mortality rate dropped by 5% between 1988 and 1992. The above period saw the lowest level in mortality rate since 1950. But why the incidence rate went up while the mortality rate seems to be unchanged? The situation has to do with certain achievements in the methods of diagnosis and treatment. An increasingly larger number of women do mammography for the early detection of abnormal growths that can be successfully treated at that stage. Besides, modern methods of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery helped curb the spread of tumor to the lungs, bones, and liver.
Myth No 3: my chances of developing breast cancer soon is one to eight
Wrong. A woman may develop breast cancer throughout her life. It is very important that a woman should be aware of this since many a women seem to expect being diagnosed with breast cancer every time they undergo examination.
Breast cancer is a disease that mostly occurs in much older women. A women has to reach 85 at the very least to see her chances of succumbing to breast cancer decrease to a one-to-nine ratio. Needless to say, many persons at such an age may die from a wide variety of different reasons and diseases.
Myth No 4: none of my relatives had breast cancer so I can relax
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