Busting the Top 5 Breast Cancer Myths 

Breast cancer is a big topic, and with big topics often come big misunderstandings. As a breast surgeon, I hear many false ideas that can cause unnecessary worry or stop people from getting the breast cancer screenings and care they need. 

At Southern New Hampshire Health, a nonprofit healthcare system, our goal is to ensure our community has access to accurate, trustworthy information. It’s important to bust these breast cancer myths because the right screening and detection may save your life. 

Myth 1: No Family History Means No Breast Cancer Risk 

Busted: This is a big one. Most people diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history. In fact, only about 15 to 20 percent of patients have a strong family history. While genetic changes, such as the BRCA gene mutation, can increase risk, lifestyle, environment, and aging play much larger roles. That’s why screening is important for everyone, not just those with a family history. 

Myth 2: A Mammogram Can Cause Cancer to Spread 

Busted: Absolutely false. This is a common worry, but mammograms use a very low-dose X-ray, and they do not cause cancer or cause it to spread. In fact, mammograms are one of our best tools. Thanks to screening, we now detect about 60 to 65 percent of breast cancers very early. This early detection is why the death rate from breast cancer has dropped by 40 percent. Early diagnosis and treatment save lives. 

Learn what to expect at your mammogram

Myth 3: Breast Cancer Always Shows Up as a Lump You Can Feel 

Busted: Not always. While a lump can be a sign, breast cancer may also appear in other ways such as changes in skin texture or color, swelling, or nipple discharge (especially if it’s bloody or blood-tinged). Sometimes, cancer is found only as an abnormality on a mammogram, with no lump or other visible signs. That’s why getting yearly mammograms after age 40 is so important for early detection. 

Myth 4: If You Have Dense Breasts, Mammograms Are Useless 

Busted: Dense breast tissue can make it harder for a mammogram to detect abnormalities, but it doesn’t make mammograms useless. If a patient has dense breasts, we simply add other studies to help, such as a breast ultrasound or a breast MRI. Mammography remains a key screening tool. It sometimes just needs a little backup. 

Myth 5: Only Women Get Breast Cancer 

Busted: While women account for about 99 percent of breast cancer cases, men can get breast cancer too. Because awareness is low among men, they often wait longer to see a doctor, leading to later diagnoses. Awareness and early detection are just as vital for men as they are for women. Men concerned about breast cancer should talk to their doctor. 

Recommended Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines 

For women at average risk, the recommendation at Foundation Breast Surgery and Southern New Hampshire Health is to start getting annual mammograms and a physical breast exam at age 40. 

Screening should be personalized. If you have a strong family history or a known genetic mutation, we’ll create a customized screening plan for you. But for most women, starting yearly screening at age 40 is the best way to catch cancer early and save lives. 

Learn more 

Dr. Tolga Ozmen is a board-certified breast surgeon with Foundation Breast Surgery, part of Southern New Hampshire Health, a nonprofit healthcare provider in southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. Dr. Ozmen also practices at Mass General Cancer Center and Mass General Breast Surgery.