In wandering around the growing list of sites Going Pink and reading some of the other reactions on the web to this event, a couple of themes stand out. Particularly for this post, that spreading awareness is one thing; spreading accurate awareness is another.
Myth: A mammogram can cause breast cancer to spread.
Truth: An x-ray of the breast, called a mammogram, cannot cause cancer to spread. Nor can the pressure put on the breast from the mammogram. Do not let tales of other people’s experiences keep you from having a mammogram. Base your decision on your physician’s recommendation and be sure to discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor. 1
I’ve read quite a few sites commenting that they never knew men could get breast cancer. That’s exactly why we have a men section on the site. Overall, I think there is plenty of awareness about breast cancer, but reading some sites and articles it’s clear that knowing breast cancer exists just isn’t enough.
Myth: Breast cancer is a communicable disease.
Truth: You cannot catch breast cancer or transfer it to someone else’s body. Breast cancer is the result of uncontrolled cell growth in your own body. 1
I don’t expect everyone to be a doctor (though if anyone would like to be a nurse…) but it does surprise me how dumb the collective brain can be about issues related to health. Ninjas sure. But wouldn’t you want to know the relative risk of your health in your environment?
Survey respondents revealed that women want to make a personal statement against breast cancer, although many had misgivings about the effectiveness of their actions. Some 59% of respondents said they had purchased or worn a pink ribbon — yet only 36% believe that it is a very important activity in the fight against breast cancer. By contrast, 96% of the respondents felt that contributing to a breast cancer related charity was important (very or somewhat). In addition, 82% said it was important to contact an elected official about breast cancer legislation. 2
I don’t think it’s a myth that turning your web site pink will stop breast cancer. It’s also not a truth. Nothing but a shite load of money focused on research leading to a cure will do that.
Which is why this year we’ve tried to push the idea that Going Pink is only step one. We want each person that visits the site to walk away more knowledgeable and we hope you pass on that knowledge to someone else. Overall, we hope that knowledge gained will spur you into action: whatever action is appropriate for you to take.
The survey revealed that 76% of the respondents consider themselves knowledgeable about breast cancer. In addition 61% of the respondents reported having recently heard or read something about breast cancer. Despite these statistics, the survey shows that awareness is not translating into knowledge.
A majority of respondents (56%) believe that most breast cancers occur among women with a family history or a genetic predisposition to the disease. The reality is that over two thirds of women diagnosed have no known risk factor. Even though having an inherited mutation in certain genes is the most potent risk factor, the National Cancer Institute states: “these genes are rare in the general population and are estimated to account for no more than 5% to 10% of breast and ovarian cancer cases overall.” 2
In the end, statistics don’t mean shit til you become one. Then they don’t mean shit for a different reason. But if statistics help garner attention I suppose it’s good. You should just generally be cautious of percentage statistics.
56% of how many? If there were 2000 respondents I’d be a lot more happy than if there were 100. Be cautious, but be curious too. Find out what 56% really means. In this case, 56% is of 1004 women over the age of 18. Not too bad.
My mammogram was normal, so I don’t have to worry about breast cancer.
While mammography does catch the vast majority of breast cancers, it is only one screening tool. One in five breast lumps is invisible on a mammogram. Women should also have a breast exam done by their health care provider each year. If you feel a lump, always get it checked out, even if your last mammogram was clear. Also, it’s important to get a mammogram every year. “The power of screening comes with regular annual exams,” Helvie says. Doctors will look at previous years’ mammograms to assess changes in the breast over time. 3
“What if I can’t afford a mammogram?” Here’s a list of US programs (by state) on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site that provide free or low-cost mammograms and pap smears.
While I bet, statistically speaking (he said will all due irony) that not everyone can get or wants a mammogram, I think it’s a possibility to do regularly for many more people than currently do it. If you are not in the US, but know of a similar site link us up in the comments.
There are plenty more myths out there. Spend a bit of time reading through some of them and see which ones you believed in. And if you’d like to challenge some of the truths about breast cancer we want to hear that too.
I have a hidden agenda in all this: I want people to be healthier. It will cost me (and you) less in the long run if more people are healthy. And dammit, I want to be able to afford an Xbox someday. :)
Part of getting healthier is getting smarter about your body in its environment. Part of Pink for October is to help you do that, or at the very least to remind you to do that for yourself.
Every woman in the United States CAN get a mammogram and cervical cancer screening because of legislation that was enacted several years ago (and is being reauthorized in congress).
As I understand it, there are catches (aren’t there always). I believe the idea is that if you had screening and started necessary treatment through insurance then you DON’T have insurance, I believe you’ll have difficulty getting coverage from government-sponsored programs.
If you start with a government-sponsored program I believe you are covered all the way through. I could certainly misunderstand PLENTY of this, but when I with the LAF we were discussing the breast cancer legislation because grassroots advocates want parity in terms of coverage for colo-rectal cancer screening and treatment and prostate screening and treatment (cancers that have established and successful diagnostic tools and preventive and treatment regimens that offer at least some success).
As far as the genetic links, that is, indeed, a common misconception. Yes, many cancers have STRONG genetic links (i.e. prostate cancer, colo-rectal cancer). But the bulk of women who get breast cancer may have no genetic connection whatsoever.
HOWEVER, I worked for a genetic research group. Our director (who, in horrible irony, now has breast cancer herself completely unrelated to genetic connections) had been on the team that discovered the first two breast cancer genes (brca1 and brca2). Though it’s true that a statistically small percentage of women have these genes, if they DO, they should know that these genes are associated with an early-age, virulent form of breast cancer. In fact, a number of women who find they have the gene and have seen family members suffer and/or die from the disease have had prophylactic mastectomies hoping to lessen their chances suffering from the breast cancer.
So, YES, know your family history (for many reasons. But get SCREENED. And do your self-exams (she says as a big hypocrite because she has benign fibrocystic breast disease and she gets all nervous trying to distinguish one kind of lump from another). Mammograms are NOT perfect and NOT to be relied on alone. But - FOR GOD’S SAKE - there is a process that COULD give you an early, treatable breast cancer diagnosis; WHY WOULD YOU NOT DO IT BECAUSE IT ISN’T 100% FOOL-PROOF? Furthermore, if we fund the research that’s improving mammograms and new diagnostic tools, who knows what the future could hold.
AND, if are a MAN and you feel something suspicious in your breast tissue (YOU DO HAVE SOME), please don’t ignore it. My friends Father did. If he hadn’t…
And I hate to harp on “contact your legislators,” but the wretched truth is that so many of our health decisions (at least in the United States) are made in congress. See what bills already exist (remember that Thomas (from the Library of Congress) is a great tool) and if you think they’re important, stress to your legislators as their constituents what SHOULD BE SUPPORTED. There are some great bills that YOU can help bring to your legislators attention (i.e. there’s the “Minority Health Improvement and Health Disparity Elimination Act” and the “Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2007″ - I could name many others). Moreover, you have the right to suggest bills that you think should be introduced.
As for the whole pink ribbon and “shop pink” and, of course, the Going Pink debates, here’s my take (again): Awareness is IMPERATIVE. Ribbons and shirts and wristbands and websites are not the end, they are a MEANS TO AN END. And the goal is AWARENESS. Awareness, naturally, is an aspect and a part of education. It is ESSENTIAL, absolutely ESSENTIAL. I reiterate, as far as the shopping goes, if/when you buy, you can buy from sources that give ALL or the BULK of the proceeds from sales to research, treatment and support.
Tell people WHY you are wearing or carrying or buying something. I wrote this when I started wearing the LIVESTRONG® wristband to explain that it was NOT just jewelry and and this for “Blog Against Cancer” event.
I think “I want people to be healthier,” says it best. Thanks.