October is Breast Cancer Prevention Month. Breast cancer mainly occurs in middle-aged women in their 40s and 50s, but recently, the number of young patients in their 20s and 30s is increasing.
According to the 2018 national cancer registration statistics released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Central Cancer Registry, 23,547 or 20.5% of all 115,80 female cancer patients had breast cancer. One in five female cancer patients is breast cancer, and the 5-year survival rate as of 2020 is 93.3%, which is higher than other cancers.
No woman is free from breast cancer. However, breast cancer is a cancer that can be detected early and has a high cure rate if treated early. With the help of Professor Kang Young-jun, a professor of breast and thyroid surgery at Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic University of Korea (pictured), we pointed out the myths about breast cancer that are floating around us.
■ Does breastfeeding lower the risk of breast cancer?
Numerous studies have already shown that breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast cancer. Numerous reports have shown that breastfeeding reduces the risk of developing breast cancer by about 10-20%, and that the longer the lactation period, the lower the risk. However, breastfeeding does not mean that you will be free from breast cancer. Breastfeeding is recommended, but there is no need to obsess over it when the situation is not realistic.
■Is wearing a bra more likely to cause breast cancer?
This is a myth based on the past claim that bras cause breast cancer. In her 1995 book Dressed To Kill, American anthropologist Sidney Rosesinger argued that women who wore a bra for more than 12 hours a day had an 11% higher risk of breast cancer. However, the American Cancer Society classified this claim as a ‘rumor’ in 2007 and pointed out that the claim that the bra compresses the lymphatic organs and accumulates toxins has no basis and there are also statistical problems. Since then, various studies have shown that bra wear, time, and timing are not significantly related to breast cancer.
Does breast augmentation surgery increase the risk of breast cancer?
There is no evidence that breast augmentation surgery with implants causes breast cancer. In a study comparing women with and without implants, it was also found that the incidence of breast cancer was not significantly different. However, if the breast is enlarged with fat grafting or filler injection, there is a possibility that the diagnosis of breast cancer may be delayed because it is difficult to confirm breast cancer with only mammography or ultrasound.
■ Is breast cancer more dangerous if you have a family history?
Among breast cancers, there are hereditary breast cancers that are inherited from parents and are congenitally susceptible to cancer. Hereditary breast cancer accounts for 5-10% of all breast cancers. In the United States, more than 12% is hereditary. However, not all cancers are caused by the presence of cancer genes. You are more likely to develop cancer than others. Of course, having an oncogene increases the incidence of breast cancer by 60-80% and ovarian cancer by 20-40%. It is known that there is no significant difference in prognosis between hereditary breast cancer and normal breast cancer. Even if you have cancer genes, you can see good results if you pay attention to good eating habits, appropriate exercise, and stress relief based on preventive treatment or active testing under consultation with a specialist and manage them well.
■Does female hormones increase the risk of breast cancer?
Estrogen, a female hormone, has the effect of promoting the proliferation of ductal cells. Prolonged exposure can increase the risk of breast cancer, so indiscriminate use of female hormones should be avoided even as a preventive measure. Even if you are taking hormone therapy, it is safe to have your doctor check you at least once a year. In addition, it is known that the risk of breast cancer increases as the period of exposure to female hormones increases due to early menarche, late menopause, no experience of childbirth or lactation, or late first childbirth.
“Breast cancer cannot be completely prevented, but it can be overcome by early detection through regular check-ups,” said Kang Young-joon, a professor of breast and thyroid surgery at the Catholic University of Korea Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital. Every two years, women over the age of 40 need to see a specialist for examination every one to two years,” he said.
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“The sooner breast cancer is detected and treated, the more positive the prognosis. It is no exaggeration to say that early detection is the most important factor in breast cancer treatment. It is recommended that self-diagnosis be performed 3 to 4 days after menstruation every month after the age of 30.”
[유방암 자가 진단 Tip]
- 1. Check the nipple for discharge.
- 2. Check if both breasts are asymmetrical.
- 3. Stand in front of a mirror, place your hands behind your head, and tilt to observe your breasts.
- 4. Place your hands on your hips and lean forward to examine your breasts.
- 5. Raise your left arm, draw a concentric circle with the tip of your right hand, and gently touch the breast starting from the armpit.
- 6. Raise one arm and gently squeeze the nipple with the other hand to check for secretions.
- 7. Place a towel or pillow on your shoulder and repeat steps 4 and 5.
- 8. Occasionally touch the breast evenly in concentric circles.
