Medical Professionals
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Dr. Manpreet K. Kohli Debunks Breast Cancer Myths Health &Wellness When it comes to breast cancer, there are so many “theories” about the causes it will make your head spin! So, before you turn to the Internet or your girlfriend for information, make sure you get the facts and don’t get caught up in the fear culture surrounding this disease. Board-certified and fellowship-trained breast surgeon Manpreet K. Kohli, MD of Barnabas Health Medical Group sets the record straight, debunking breast cancer myths. Dr. Kohli provides comprehensive breast care as well as medical and surgical expertise and is affiliated with the Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. According to Dr. Kohli, “Breast cancer awareness has increased significantly and there is a wealth of information online for women now. Many studies have been done to tell us certain factors that increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. Unfortunately, there are also many invalidated myths circulating the Internet injecting fear into women about daily exposures increasing risk. In reality, only 10 to 15 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a significant family history or true risk factors. By knowing the difference between real risks and rumors, you can have more peace of mind.”
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Myth: Wearing an Underwire Bra Increases Risk of Breast Cancer
Reality: There are claims that underwire bras can impair lymphatic drainage from the breast, allowing toxins to build up and cause breast cancer. Studies show this is simply not true. While ill-fitting underwire bras may rub against certain parts of the breast and bring attention to pre-existing breast issues, they aren’t the cause of the condition itself.
Myth: Deodorant Causes Breast Cancer
Manpreet K. Kohli, MD Fellowship Trained Breast Surgeon Dr. Kohli is affiliated with the Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus in Lakewood and Community Medical Center in Toms River. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kohli, contact:
Barnabas Health Medical Group is a multispecialty group practice comprising highly trained and experienced world class primary and specialty care physicians. Barnabas Health Medical Group physicians provide compassionate and innovative cutting-edge care for people at every stage of life at easily accessible facilities conveniently located throughout New Jersey. Backed by the vast continuum of resources of Barnabas Health, the largest not-for-profit integrated health care delivery system in New Jersey and one of the largest in the nation, our dedicated physicians and expertly trained supporting staff continuously strive for clinical excellence.
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Myth: Breast Implants Can Raise Theater &E ntertainment Your Cancer Risk Reality: Because women are told not to wear deodorant when getting a mammogram, they may believe using deodorant is linked to breast cancer. The reason women are told to forgo deodorant is because its aluminum content can appear on imaging as calcifications and lead to a false mammogram reading. Another concern was about the parabens that were once commonly found in deodorants. Parabens are preservatives, which appear molecularly similar to estrogen. Because there is a hormonal link with breast cancer, it was thought to perhaps play a role as well. Studies have found that while parabens can be absorbed, they do not cause or contribute to breast cancer. Furthermore, it is uncommon today for companies to use this ingredient as a preservative.
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Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center 300 Second Avenue Long Branch, NJ 07740 732.923.7702
About Barnabas Health Medical Group
Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus 600 River Avenue Lakewood, NJ 08701 732.923.7702
To learn more, visit barnabashealthmedicalgroup.org.
Reality: Breast implants do not increase your risk of breast cancer. A more realistic concern with implants is they sometimes require women to have more imaging because it can be more challenging to get a good view of all of the breast tissue. However, radiologists can still screen with mammograms, using implant displaced views.
Myth: Small Breasted Women are Less Likely to Get Breast Cancer Reality: Breast cancer is an equal opportunity type of cancer; breasts of all sizes are at risk. The only difference is small breasts are more likely to be dense, which may mean these women might require more imaging than just a mammogram. Larger breasts tend to be easier to screen because the bigger the breast, the higher the fatty content. There may be more real estate in a bigger breast, but that doesn’t mean a higher risk of breast cancer.
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Myth: Having a Miscarriage or Abortion Increases Breast Cancer Risk Reality: The thought is that miscarriages and abortions cause a disruption in hormones and may be linked to an increased risk of cancer. There is no evidence to support that claim. One validated link between pregnancy and breast cancer is that women who have their first pregnancy before age 30 lower their lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.
Screening is Key
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Myth: Chemical Hair Relaxers Cause Breast Cancer in African American Women Reality: It’s been proven that breast cancer is more lethal in African American women. It is true that breast cancer often presents earlier and tends to be more aggressive in this population. One theory was that African American women increase their breast cancer risk by using chemical hair straightening treatments. A recent, large-scale study found there was no link between straightening treatments and breast cancer. Intense research is being done to understand more about why breast cancers behave differently in this group of women. The true reasons we are finding, are in the genetic differences and unique biologic features of breast cancer in different populations.
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Dr. Kohli encourages women to get annual mammograms - the gold standard of screening. “While some women resist screening because they are concerned about the amount of radiation, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. A mammogram exposes women to a very small amount of radiation. Environmentally, you’re exposed to more radiation from just being out and about in a city like New York for 4 weeks than a single mammogram. Even 3D mammograms, which have an increased level of radiation, have nowhere near the level of radiation a CAT scan exposes you to. When someone has many CAT scans is when we get concerned.” Screening is the only sure-fire way to detect breast cancer early, when it is most treatable. Even though preventing breast cancer is nearly impossible because there isn’t just one risk factor, there are things women can do to lower their risk: limit alcohol, maintain a healthy weight, exercise, quit smoking, breast feeding and receive screening and imaging.”
May/June 2016 January/Feb