BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – If, as a woman, you have been worried that inserting a cell phone in your bra can cause you breast cancer, worry not.
As the world wraps up the breast cancer awareness month, the Ministry of Health and the National Breast Cancer Foundation (www.nationalbreastcancer.org) have taken an opportunity to address certain myths that have been spread about breast cancer.
One of the most popular myth, according to these two organisations, it that inserting a cell phone in a bra can cause breast cancer for females. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, studies on mobile phone signals have shown no link between phone use and cancer, though scientists continue to monitor cell signals for potential longer-term impacts. Below are other myths that are addressed by the Foundation and the Ministry:
• A breast injury can cause breast cancer: Injuries to the breast do not cause cancer, but one can draw attention to a breast lump that had previously formed.
• Breast cancer is more common in women with bigger breasts: Breast size is not associated to cancer risk, but obesity and breast density can increase the risk of breast cancer.
• Breast cancer affects women only, men are safe: Men can get breast cancer too, and they are more likely to die from it than women because they lack awareness and can dismiss a lump as breast cancer, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
• Breast cancer affects middle-aged and older women: While most cases of breast cancer do occur in middle-aged or older women, a breast cancer diagnosis can happen at any age or any time. About nine percent of new breast cancer cases in the United States are found in women under age 45, and these cases are more likely to be found at a later stage, according to the CDC.
• Consuming sugar causes breast cancer: While sugar isn’t known for its health benefits, it does not cause breast cancer. Many doctors and health experts encourage patients to reduce or limit sugar intake because it is addictive and can contribute to mood swings, obesity, and illness. Weight gain and obesity, in particular, are risk factors in developing breast cancer and many other types of cancers; however, sugar itself does not make cancer develop or help tumors grow, as some myths hypothesize.
