Breast cancer is seen in 1 in every 8 women in our country. With early diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning, complete recovery and recovery from the disease is possible. However, common misconceptions about breast cancer can negatively affect the diagnosis and treatment process and cause fatal outcomes. Here are the things you need to know about breast cancer in "October 1-31 Breast Cancer Awareness Month":
"I don't have breast cancer in my family and neither will I"
Wrong! As with every type of cancer, breast cancer also carries genetic risk factors. However, 85% of breast cancers develop due to reasons other than genetics. It can also be seen in women who do not have a family history of breast cancer.
“It is enough to check my breast myself”
Wrong! Early diagnosis of cancer is very important. The most important point for breast cancer is to go to the doctor without any complaints. A mass in the breast can be detected by mammography long before it becomes palpable. Even before the cancer stage, lesions in the breast that may turn into cancer can be detected. Therefore, one should go for a check-up without any complaints.
“Frequent mammography causes cancer.”
Wrong! Mammography does not cause cancer or the spread of cancer. On the contrary, it provides access to important information during the treatment process that prevents the spread of the disease. The radiation dose given during mammography is very low. If a woman has a mammogram every year for 50 years, her breast tissue will only receive as much radiation as if she had had a chest X-ray. It is not harmful to have mammograms at regular intervals. It does not cause breast cancer. However, unnecessary mammography should be avoided. Also, there is no harm in having a mammogram at a young age. However, since adequate images cannot be obtained with mammography due to the characteristics of the breast tissue in women under the age of 30, ultrasound is generally preferred instead of mammography at younger ages.
"Women who have given birth and breast-fed do not have breast cancer." p>
Wrong! Giving birth and breastfeeding protects women from breast cancer to a certain extent. However, it does not mean that women who give birth and breastfeeding will not get cancer.
“Women before menopause "She doesn't get breast cancer."
Wrong! Breast cancer is a type of cancer that occurs at all ages. It can occur at an early age, before menopause or even before giving birth. Nowadays, there are patients with breast cancer in their 20s.
“Men are very lucky not to have breast cancer.”
Wrong! Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women. However, this does not mean that the disease cannot be seen in men. 1% of all breast cancers occur in men.
“I felt a lump in my breast while manually checking it, I definitely have breast cancer.”
>Wrong! Breast cysts, which are seen in many women, do not always indicate cancer. These formations can be drained when they grow and cause pain or raise suspicion of breast cancer. Additionally, there is no connection between the pain of a lump in the breast and cancer. Not every palpable tissue in the breast means a mass, and not every mass means cancer.
“I had a discharge in my breast, I got cancer”
Wrong! Every woman may experience some discharge from the breast by squeezing it. This is not a sign of cancer. Spontaneous, one-sided and bloody discharges are a sign of danger. It needs to be examined.
“Having a biopsy causes the mass to become cancerous.”
Wrong! Diagnosis of any cancer can be made by biopsy. It is the safest way to name the audience. Biopsy does not change the nature of the mass. It does not cause the disease to spread.
“Removing a cancerous mass by surgery causes the cancer to spread throughout the body.”
Wrong! If cancer is to spread throughout the body, it spreads through cells that break away from the cancerous mass. Removing this mass prevents spread. If the removal of the mass is delayed, the cells spread throughout the body before the surgery may form new masses after a while, even if the mass itself is removed. This situation has nothing to do with surgery.
"I have been diagnosed with breast cancer, I will lose my breast."
Wrong! Unless it is too late, there is no need to remove the entire breast in breast cancer surgeries. Treatment is completed only by removing the cancerous tissue. he is late Even if the breast needs to be removed completely, the patient's breast can be replaced in the same session with the patient's own tissues or ready-made prostheses.
“After breast cancer surgery, I will not be able to use my arm as before”
Wrong! Generally, it is not necessary to remove all of the armpit lymph nodes. During surgery, several of the lymph nodes are marked and removed and examined using various methods. If there is no problem, other lymph nodes are not touched. Even if other lymph nodes need to be removed, this does not necessarily mean swelling of the arm. Precautions should be taken to prevent the arm from swelling.
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