Get informed this National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
It’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A major goal of this month is educating the public about the realities of this disease. Unfortunately, there are many incorrect assumptions about breast cancer that can cause confusion. To eliminate some of these misconceptions, here is the truth behind three of the most common breast cancer myths out there.
- Myth 1: Only Women Can Get Breast Cancer
While women are more likely than men to develop breast cancer, this does not mean that men are completely immune to the disease. According to numbers from the National Breast Cancer Foundation, an estimated 2,470 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and approximately 460 will die as a result of this disease.
- Myth 2: Mammograms are the Only Breast Cancer Screening Method
While mammograms are certainly the most popular breast cancer screening method, this isn’t the only test that doctors administer to check patients for breast cancer. Another common screening method is known as a clinical breast examination or CBE. During a CBE, a doctor will feel around the breasts and under the arms for any lumps or abnormalities. This screening method can be administered to both women and men, and is a common screening measure for women under 45 (recommended mammogram age).
Doctors can also use MRI technology to screen for breast cancer. This method is less common than mammograms because it is more invasive, more expensive, and more likely to give out a false positive. Generally, MRIs are only used to screen those with a very high risk of developing breast cancer.
- Myth 3: Breast Cancer is a Death Sentence
In recent years, there has been a global decline in the number of deaths caused by breast cancer. While breast cancer is still a major health concern, early detection and new treatment methods are helping more and more people beat this disease. Today, there are over 3.3 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. alone.
This is the truth behind some of the most prevalent misconceptions about breast cancer. In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we at ISU-Wissink Insurance encourage you and your loved ones to take care of your health and schedule an annual breast cancer screening. Want another way to take care of yourself this October? If so, contact us to put the right personal insurance protections in place. We are ready to get you covered today.