For the October 23 edition of Central Texas Living Andrea Morgan spoke with Dr. Thomas Harris, medical oncologist at Texas Oncology.
During the interview, Dr. Harris addressed common breast cancer myths, working to separate fact from fiction.
Here are a few common myths:
Fiction: I don’t have a family history of cancer, so I can’t get cancer.
Fact: You do not have to have a family history to develop breast cancer.
Fiction: Men don’t get breast cancer.
Fact: A man’s breast cancer risk is much less than a woman’s, however it can still happen.
Fiction: Mastectomy is my only option.
Fact: Options for breast cancer surgery include mastectomy or lumpectomy (partial mastectomy), also known as breast conserving surgery.
Fiction: Lumps in the breast are always signs of breast cancer. If I can’t feel lumps, I must not have cancer.
Fact: Many people associate lumps as the primary symptom of breast cancer – but it’s not the only symptom, and just because you have a lump doesn’t mean you have cancer.