PRESS RELEASES

MYTHS ABOUT BREAST CANCER 

Each October, people around the world celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We celebrate those who are courageously fighting this disease, and remember those who are no longer with us.  At Beverly Hospital, we strive to educate the community, promote breast cancer awareness and provide comprehensive services to our patients to diagnose and treat breast cancer and benign breast disease.  As a Certified Breast Patient Navigator for Beverly Hospital's Breast Health Center, I am truly dedicated to early detection of this disease and to providing vital education to our patients.  As a certified breast health navigator, it is my role to assist in the diagnosis of benign breast disease and breast cancer, support and guide patients through the healthcare system recognizing their personal needs and educate patients so they feel empowered and confident in the care they receive. 

There is a lot of good information about breast health. The following, however, are some common breast health myths of which everyone should be aware of:

Breast cancer can be prevented.

Although breast cancer cannot be prevented, there are some things that all women can do to reduce their risk. According the American Cancer Society (2011) smoking cessation, developing a regular exercise routine, limiting alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding hormone usage after menopause can help reduce the risk of breast cancer.  

I don't have a family history of breast cancer, so I'm not at risk.

Eighty five percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer do NOT have family history of breast cancer.  Having one first degree relative with breast cancer does increase your risk of developing the disease.  Know your family history and have a breast cancer risk assessment performed to find out if you are high risk and a candidate for further testing.

I have yearly mammograms, so I don't need a clinical breast exam from my doctor.

There are a small percentage of cancers that are not detected by mammograms.  The American Cancer Society recommends a clinical breast exam every 3 years for women in their 20's and 30's, and yearly for women age 40 and older.

I heard mammograms are painful; I don't want to get one.

Mammograms are not painful; however they can be uncomfortable for a few moments.  During a mammogram, it is important for the technologist to compress the breast tissue and position your breast on the equipment in a manger that allows them to see all the tissue.  This enables the radiologist who is interpreting your mammogram to best view the breast tissue.  This could mean that there is a slight tugging of the breast to get in the best position.

I was called back for extra views after I had my mammogram.  I must have cancer.

A small percentage of the screening mammogram population returns for additional views following their mammogram.   Most often, these are for overlapping tissues or benign breast disease.  An even smaller percentage of patients continue on for further testing after the extra views.

I am a man, so I'm not at risk of breast cancer.

Although men are 100 times less likely to develop breast cancer, the risk is present, especially if there is a genetic/family history of breast cancer, increase in alcohol consumption, obesity, hormonal exposures or testicular conditions.

The Breast Health Center at Beverly Hospital at Danvers provides ultrasound, breast MRI, minimally invasive breast biopsy, genetic counseling and testing in collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, breast cancer risk assessment, breast health consultation with surgeons and/or nurse practitioners, a certified breast patient navigator for patients with both benign breast disease and breast cancer and multidisciplinary case conference for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.  At Beverly Hospital, we provide a number of comprehensive services to our breast health patients.  In addition, mammography services are provided at Addison Gilbert Hospital, the Women's Health and Art Center on the Beverly Hospital campus, and at the Breast Health Center at Beverly Hospital at Danvers. 

Kimberly Willis, NP-C, MSN CBPN-IC

Beverly Hospital