Learn About Breast Cancer: Myths, Symptoms, and More

Written by Samira Rauner

Empowerment | Family Life | Featured Post | Healthy Lifestyles | Staying Healthy | support groups | Words of Encouragement

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10/12/2020

The breast cancer ribbon

Disclaimer: We want to raise awareness that it is not just cisgender women that own breasts and can experience breast cancer – intersex, non-binary people and trans men for instance can, too. However, the studies referred to in this article use the word ‘woman’ in their research. For accuracy, we have not changed the terminology. We have, however, added a little asterisk to gendered terms to highlight that these studies can also refer to people who have been assigned female/male at birth, yet identify differently.
We also want to clarify that this article was not written by a health professional. For medical advice, please speak to your doctor. 

1 in 8 women* in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, making it the most common cancer in American women*. In comparison, around 2 men* out of 100,000 get breast cancer at some point in their lives.
Though breast cancer has gotten a lot of attention over the last couple of years, some myths still persist. With October marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we want to clear up those myths, help you understand your body, and explain how you can check your own breasts for potential symptoms. 

Two hands holding two lemons

Photo by Dainis Graveris from Pexels

Understand the biology of your breasts 

Biologically female breasts are primarily made up of fat cells called adipose tissue. This tissue is not just inside your boob, but it actually reaches from just below your collarbone down to your underarm and even across the ribcage.
Each breast is made up of a number of lobes, usually around 12 to 20. Each of those lobes is made up of smaller lobules which can produce milk if you are nursing, as they are connected to the milk ducts. This is typically where breast cancer starts to form. 

Busting some myths around breast cancer

MYTH: Breast cancer only affects biologically female people.

  • TRUTH: While breast cancer also affects intersex people, non-binary people, and trans men, it can also affect biologically male people, though rare.
    However, around 2600 men* in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Because the awareness around male* breast cancer is not as high as it is in women*, many men* do not regularly check their breasts. This leads to men* diagnosed with breast cancer being 50 years or older on average, increasing the male* breast cancer mortality rate.
  • Though the awareness around breast cancer is higher in women* than in men*, many individuals still do not regularly check their breasts. This might potentially be rooted in the stigma still attached to women* touching their own bodies, whether it be for self-pleasure or other reasons, such as a regular self-examination of the breast.
    However, we encourage you to help break down that stigma by actively practicing breast self-exams – what better way is there than to start checking your chest and taking care of your health?

MYTH: Finding a lump means you have breast cancer.

  • TRUTH: While a lump can be a sign of cancer, most have other causes such as benign cysts. Because the biologically female body undergoes menstruation, which is regulated by hormones, boobs can change throughout the cycle. For example, throughout your cycle you may experience tenderness, lumpiness (as milk glands enlarge), swelling, pain, or soreness.
    If you do find a lump, you can either choose to see a doctor immediately, or monitor it for a week or two and see if anything changes as you move on to the next stage in your cycle. Lumps don’t necessarily mean cancer, but keep in mind that with cancer, early detection is critical.

MYTH: If you have breast pain, you have cancer.

  • TRUTH: Similarly to finding a lump, experiencing breast pain does not necessarily mean that you have cancer. In fact, most often it does not.
    Breast pain can be completely normal, particularly around your period, during pregnancy, puberty, or menopause, and it can also be caused by harmless cysts or abscesses.
    If you experience persistent pain, however, let your doctor have a closer look.
A woman self-examining her breasts

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

How to self-examine your breasts

No matter your age or gender, knowing your body is important, and so is checking your breasts on a regular basis. By self-examining your breasts at least once a month, you will be able to notice if anything about them changes. 

  • To check your boobs, use your three middle fingers and stretch them out flat. Pat down your chest area, using light, medium, and firm pressure. While you can do this standing up, consider lying down if possible, because that enables your breast tissue to spread out equally. 
  • Remember to not just check your breasts, but to also examine your entire chest. Pat down your chest all the way up to your collarbone, and underneath your armpits as well. 
  • It’s best to make a routine out of checking your boobs, for example always on the 1st of a month. Tip: set a reminder on your phone or calendar to help you remember. Keep in mind that your period can affect your breast tissue. 
  • Should you experience unusual pain or notice some irregularities or lumps, monitor the changes for a few weeks. If they persist, consider seeing a doctor. 
  • If you need some more information on how exactly checking your breasts works, have a look at the Boob Check video by Coppa Feel. 

Breast cancer symptoms and Red Flags

When examining your breasts, there are a few things to which you should pay particular attention. If you experience any of the symptoms listed below, see if it persists for a few days to a week. If it does, consider seeing your doctor. Remember that these symptoms rarely mean that you have breast cancer. 

  • Sudden change in size or shape of your breasts
  • Changes to your boob’s skin, i.e. puckering or dimpling (similar to the peel of an orange)
  • Any new lumps appearing
  • Persistent pain
  • Nipple discharge, i.e. clear or bloody liquid
  • Nipple inversion, or nipples moving position or changing in shape and size 
  • Recent asymmetry (It is normal for your boobs to be of slightly different sizes, but if the change is recent and sudden, it might be worth having checked out.)
  • Male* breast: Breast cancer in men* often appears as a small lump underneath the nipple or areola.
The breast cancer ribbons

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels

More resources (U.S. based)

Here are some resources to help you with anything related to breast cancer. Some provide you with more information about symptoms or breast cancer treatment, and others will help you if you are in need of support. 

A person holding up the breast cancer ribbon

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

Conclusion

While breast cancer can affect anyone, and regularly checking your breasts is important, keep in mind that experiencing a symptom only rarely means cancer.
This does not undermine the importance of regularly self-examining your body, because this allows you to spot any changes and enables you to get help if you need it.
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, remember that currently, there are around 3.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States alone.
If you need help or support, we encourage you to join a breast cancer support group, or to contact any of the helplines listed above.
Always remember that whatever you may be experiencing or feeling, you are not the only one. 

 

Written by Samira Rauner, blogger at Safe Harbor International Ministries. For more articles, visit our blog page at https://safeharborim.com/articles/. 

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