6 breast lump myths that you must unlearn

New Delhi: Globally, breast cancer impacts 2.3 million women annually, with India reporting over 200,000 new cases in 2022, accounting for 13.5% of all cancers here. Reassuringly, 80% of lumps turn out benign, such as fibroadenomas or cysts. Fear, fuelled by pervasive myths, can transform manageable breast health concerns into unnecessary crises. Hence, increasing awareness to dispel doubts and bust myths about Breast cancer is the need of the hour. Breast lumps, as and when detected, need medical examination to reach an understanding about thenature of the lumps. Regular screening and timely medical intervention can turn a potentially devastating diagnosis into a manageable one.

In an interaction with TV9 English, Dr. Tapti Sen, Senior Consultant – Breast Surgery, Laparoscopy/Gen Surgery, RG Hospitals - Kolkata, spoke about the myths regarding women's health and shared the facts as well.

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Let’s address these myths one by one:

All Lumps Are Cancerous: About 80-85% of breast lumps turn out to be harmless after simple measures like self-breast examination, regular clinical checkups, USG Breasts, Mammogram &if required Biopsy. Non-malignant lesions includefibroadenomas (42% of cases) and fibrocystic changes (15%). Cancer makes up just 15-20%, usually a type called invasive ductal carcinoma. Skipping a quick ultrasound or mammogram because of anxiety or fear of the outcome only adds to the stress. Get checked without delay to determine the best course of action regarding the treatment.

Painless lumps are Harmless: Cancerous lumps often don't hurt at all, while painful ones are usually cysts or hormone-related. Do a monthly self-exam and tell your doctor right away about a hard lump, any distortion in shape, nipple discharge, nipple retraction, or lump in the axilla. A stitch in time saves nine.

Associating Lumps only with Old Age: Young women aged 15-35 often develop hormone-driven fibroadenomas, and while risk escalates after 40, 20-30% of breast cancers strike under-40s. Factors like family history or certain medications heighten vulnerability. In India, late detection contributes to grim outcomes; three in five deaths occur post-diagnosis due to delayed screening.

Associating Higher Risk with Breast Size: Breast size bears no direct correlation to lump risk, as they arise equally across all sizes. Dense breast tissue, prevalent in Asian women, poses the real challenge, as it can obscure mammogram findings. Pairing mammography with ultrasound ensures accurate detection, regardless of cup size.

Lumps Always Grow Rapidly: Growth patterns vary widely. Benign lumps often remain stable, while cancers can progress slowly or aggressively. Red flags like lumps over 2cm, those fixed to skin or muscle, or any rapid changes, skin puckering, skin thickening, blood discharge from nipple, nipple retraction. Demand attention, since forewarned is forearmed. Regular monitoring always helps in identifying issues early for better outcomes.

Breast Cancer is Hereditary: Over 90% of breast cancers have no strong family link; they are driven instead by lifestyle factors like obesity, delayed pregnancies, alcohol, and urbanisation. India's rising cases are linked to these shifts, compounded by low awareness. Hereditary risks exist, but most cases demand broad vigilance.

Biopsy causes spread of cancer: This is absolutely a myth; biopsy is a must to prove and treat breast cancer, the fear of biopsy is one of the main reasons that we get such a high incidence of advanced breast cancer in our country as compared to western world.

Takeaway

Early detection makes all the difference. Stage 1 breast cancer has an excellent survival rate, while Stage 4 drops to just 25%. Start by adopting simple, yet effective, measures, do monthly self-exams to detect any changes early, get annual clinical breast exams after age 40, and begin mammograms at 50 (or sooner if you're high-risk). When needed, the trusted triple check, doctor exam, imaging like ultrasound or mammogram, and biopsy, give clear answers fast.