Common Misconceptions About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer type among women in our country, as it is worldwide. In fact, one in four cancer diagnoses is breast cancer, and one in eight women will face breast cancer at some point in their lives. Acıbadem Altunizade Hastanesi General Surgery Specialist Assoc. Prof. Aykut Soyder, noting that approximately 25,000 women in our country are diagnosed with breast cancer annually and this number increases every day, states: "Over the last 30 years, alongside developments in medical and surgical treatments for breast cancer, the most important factor in achieving success has been early detection. Monthly self-examination of the breast by hand for every woman over 20 years of age, regular annual checkups, and for women between 40-69 years of age, not neglecting annual breast examination, breast ultrasound and mammography increase the chances of early detection. However, some commonly believed misconceptions about breast cancer in our society can unfortunately prevent early diagnosis and treatment opportunities," he says. General Surgery Specialist Assoc. Prof. Aykut Soyder explained 7 common misconceptions about breast cancer and surgical treatment, providing important warnings and recommendations.

If I have surgery (if the knife touches me), the tumor will spread! : FALSE!

THE TRUTH: Breast surgery procedures applied after appropriate patient selection form a routine part of treatment. In patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, appropriate surgical and medical treatment is considered curative for the disease.

I'm still young, I can't have breast cancer at this age! FALSE!

THE TRUTH: In accordance with World Health Organization recommendations, breast cancer screening age in our country has been set at 40 years and above on an annual basis. While the diagnosis rate of breast cancer under 40 years of age worldwide is around 5-6 percent, in our country this rate has been determined as 16.6 percent. This difference is explained by the high proportion of the young population. The importance of monthly self-examination of the breast and annual clinical evaluation in women after age 20 becomes even more significant.

There's no lump I can feel in my breast, testing is unnecessary! FALSE!

THE TRUTH: Approximately 30 percent of breast cancer cases are diagnosed with tumors that are too small to be detected on physical examination. For this reason, radiological evaluation (breast ultrasound and mammography) must be added alongside physical examination to annual clinical evaluations.

No one in my family has been diagnosed with breast cancer, therefore I have no risk! FALSE!

THE TRUTH: Only 5-10 percent of patients diagnosed with breast cancer show hereditary (familial) characteristics. In our country, only 15.8 percent of those diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of breast cancer, and 3.3 percent have a family history of ovarian cancer.

I'm advanced in age, I cannot have surgery at this age! FALSE!

THE TRUTH: General Surgery Specialist Assoc. Prof. Aykut Soyder states: "The frequency of breast cancer diagnosis increases with age. Currently, the breast cancer diagnosis rate in those 70 years and older is reported at 30 percent. As life expectancy increases, the number of breast cancer diagnoses in the elderly increases in our country as it does worldwide, and this is becoming an important social problem. When planning treatment for patients in this age group, the determining factor is not the patient's age but their performance status. Surgery can be safely performed in suitable patients, while medical treatment protocols can be preferred for patients unsuitable for surgery."

I had surgery, my treatment is complete! FALSE!

THE TRUTH: Surgical procedures in breast cancer treatment form only a portion of the treatment. The completeness of treatment is achieved and success rates are increased with added medical treatments (chemotherapy-hormone therapy) and radiotherapy (RT).  

The entire breast must be removed! FALSE!

THE TRUTH: Breast-conserving surgery performed after appropriate patient evaluation can be safely done without removing the entire breast and with low and similar recurrence rates. In our country, the application rate of this technique in patients diagnosed with breast cancer exceeds 70 percent. Applied oncoplastic surgery techniques further increase breast-conserving surgery rates and safety.