From using deodorant to drinking diet drinks, we’re constantly being told that the everyday things we do are giving us cancer. And if you’re anything like me, it can be really overwhelming to know what’s right and what’s wrong.
So as it’s breast cancer awareness month, I decided to reach out to the experts to separate fact from fiction. Plus I got the lowdown on the symptoms we all need to be aware of and some facts about breast cancer that I never knew…
What’s Fact and What’s Fiction?
Plastic water bottles and tupperware – There have been lots of claims that plastic water bottles and tupperware can give us cancer, but is there any truth in it? According to Cancer Research UK the answer is no. Chemicals in some plastics, like bisphenol A (BPA) can get into our food or drink but research has shown that the levels are very low, and within a range considered safe . The only reasons we should avoid using these items is to save the planet!
Deodarant sticks – I’ve always been told by my mother to avoid deodorant sticks because they use aluminium. But Cancer Research UK says the link with this and cancer is a myth – wahoo! They say there is no evidence to back this up and the only reason we’re told not to use spray deodorant before a breast screening is because it can tamper with the results.
Diet drinks – When I first heard that artificial sweetner aspartame could cause cancer I immediately cut out drinks like Diet Coke. In fact, I haven’t touched one for almost 10 years! But is it true? Well many people will be pleased to hear there is no evidence to prove this. Studies have been done and no link between people drinking diet drinks and cancer have been concluded.
Pesticides and Herbicides – The UK Standards Food Agency has strict quality control on the levels of chemicals used in farming and there is no evidence to link cancer with these chemicals. Even using weed killer in your own garden won’t change your chances of getting the disease. However, if farmers are at higher risk because of their substantial exposure is still inconclusive.
Stress – I really hope this one isn’t true as someone who spends most of the time feeling extremely stressed. Thankfully, it’s not. A large study of over 100,000 women in the UK in 2016 showed no consistent evidence between stress and breast cancer. But if you’re stress coping mechanisms include fatty foods, alcohol or cigarettes then that’s another story.
Milk and Dairy – I am terrified of the hormones that are pumped into the dairy we eat, so if I get it it’s always organic for that reason. But can it really contribute to breast cancer? The answer is maybe. Some studies have found that it might increase the risk and others have found it may decrease the risk. So perhaps stick with the organic until we know for sure.
Mobile Phones – There are a ton of conspiracy theories that phones give us cancer, or if not the phones the phone masts. But is there any truth in it? Luckily, no there isn’t. According to Cancer Research UK the radiation that mobile phones or phone masts transmit and receive is very weak. It does not have enough energy to damage DNA so is highly unlikely to be able to cause cancer. So if you want to stick your phone in your bra because, as usual, we don’t have decent pockets in our clothes then do so.
Prevention
Although it’s never possible to predict the future and what our bodies will do. There are things we can do in our everyday lives to help reduce the risk of getting breast cancer.
Watch what you eat and drink – All of us should be cautious of what we consume and the effects it will have on our health. But other than the usual problems weight gain and drinking alcohol can cause, they’ve also been linked to breast cancer.
Move more – Another obvious one but exercise actually helps reduce the risk of cancer due to the fact that it reduces the amount of insulin, hormones and growth factors in the body that have been linked with causing cancer in some studies.
Breastfeed if you can – Not to add to the pressures of breast-feeding, but it’s been proven that mothers who breastfeed reduce their chance of getting breast cancer. The longer you do it the better too.
Have children – Again, scientists don’t know exactly why but someone who’s had a child, especially when they’re younger, is at less risk of getting breast cancer. The more children you have, the more it goes down too.
The Breast Cancer Facts You Might Not Know
Over 2 in 5 women in the UK do not check their breasts – Research commissioned by Breast Cancer Now revealed that over 44% of women in the UK don’t check themselves regularly for signs and symptoms of breast cancer so ladies, start checking them now!
Breast cancer treatment can send women into early menopause – Chemo and hormone therapy can, in some cases, bring on early menopause in some women.
Breast cancer treatment can cause infertility in women – If the menopause wasn’t fun enough, it’s also been found that in some women the treatment can affect the ovaries and the number and quality of eggs, therefore reducing their fertility. But this is all dependent on the types of drugs and treatment the patient had.
Breast cancer in men – Men have breast tissue and can definitely get breast cancer, even though a lot of people don’t know this. It’s less common and most men affected are over 60.
White women are more likely to get breast cancer – But South Asian, black, Chinese and mixed race women face lower survival rates partly due to later diagnoses. In this day and age? That is appalling.
Breast cancer survival has doubled in the last 40 years – Some good news. Eight in ten women survive breast cancer beyond 10 years after diagnosis now, compared to just four in the 70s.
AI will be able to predict if breast cancer will spread – Yup, those AI robots are now going to help with deadly diseases too. Breast Cancer Now-funded scientists discovered that artificial intelligence (AI) can predict if an aggressive type of breast cancer will spread, based on changes in a patient’s lymph nodes.
Some of the Symptoms
A new lump – The most common symptom and often nothing to worry about, but if you feel or notice a new lump in your breast get it checked out.
Swelling or lumps in the armpit – This happens because the lymph nodes have swollen up and is usually caused by a low immune system but very occasionally it can also be cancer so again, one to get checked out.
Breast size change – If you think one or both breasts look different or feel different it might also be worth seeing the GP. Hormones are normally the culprit but you can never be too careful.
Skin changes – A little rash, some obscure redness or unusual dimpling could be a symptom of breast cancer, in very unusual cases it can also look like orange peel.
Leaky nipples – If you’re not breastfeeding or pregnant, the nipples shouldn’t leak any liquid so get this looked at just in case.
Breast Cancer Now is the research and support charity here for anyone affected by breast cancer. Call their free helpline on 0808 800 6000 to speak to their expert nurses or find out more and donate at breastcancernow.org.
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/ also have a lot of support and guidelines for anyone worried about breast cancer.
The Joy 
Thanks Jenny- great article !
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