Fact: Believe it or not, some hair dyes are estrogen-based -- and high levels of this hormone is a known cause of breast cancer. As a result, some think that those who dye their hair frequently, or who work with it as hair colorists, are absorbing a toxic amount of the hormone. "But the truth is that the amount of estrogen absorbed from hair dyes is really small, and there's no convincing evidence that it can increase the risk of developing breast cancer," says Birhiray.
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Myth No. 7: Coffee causes breast cancer
Fact: This is one of those myths that probably started thanks to a crazy co-worker who wanted the last cup of coffee in the office break room. Birhiray says there is no connection between caffeine and breast cancer. In fact, a 10-year-long study published in the "International Journal of Cancer" found that over the course of a decade, women who drink four or more cups of coffee a day have the same risk of breast cancer as women who rarely drink caffeine. Bottom line: "If you consume a reasonable amount of caffeine, your risk of developing breast cancer isn't going to go up or down," says Birhiray.
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Myth No. 8: The Pill raises your risk of getting breast cancer
Fact: While the evidence that the Pill causes breast cancer is somewhat conflicting, many docs point to a study conducted in 2006 by the National Human Genome Research Institute called the Women's Contraceptive and Reproductive Experiences (Women's CARE). Researchers set out to determine whether oral contraceptives really were a risk factor for women aged 35 to 64. They interviewed nearly 4,600 women with breast cancer, and a similar number of women without the disease, comparing their use of oral contraceptives, reproductive history, and health. The conclusion? No significant link between The Pill and breast cancer.
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Myth No. 9: Wearing an underwire bra raises your risk of getting breast cancer
Fact: This rumor began in 1995 when some medical anthropologists published a study concluding that tight bras with underwires compress the lymphatic system and inhibit lymphatic drainage, allowing toxins to accumulate and cause breast cancer. However, many medical institutions like the NCI and the ACS have since rebuked these claims, saying there isn't enough evidence to support the theory.
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Myth No. 10: Weight isn't a big risk factor
Fact: Body weight does play a huge role in breast cancer risk. A 2011 study conducted by the Women's Health Initiative that evaluated 155,723 postmenopausal women found that women who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher in their premenopausal years were found to have a 35 to 39 percent increased risk of a breast cancer diagnosis compared to their thinner counterparts.
Why weight becomes a factor post-menopause isn't fully known, but Birhiray says the increased risk is most likely due to fat acting as storage for estrogen. The more fat cells you have, the more estrogen your body will store. And as we mentioned earlier, excess estrogen is a known factor in increased breast cancer risk. You can calculate your BMI here.
Ahh, October. The leaves are falling, your man is caught up in baseball playoffs, you're wearing your deepest lipstick shades instead of gloss, and it looks like Pepto-Bismol exploded all over the country.
From pink, leopard-spotted rifles (yes, hunting rifles) to the Adam & Eve Natural Contours Pink Ribbon Vibrator, you can't take two steps without being reminded that it's Breast Cancer Awareness month.
We know you're rolling your eyes at the ridiculous number of salmon-hued paraphernalia inundating you this month. But if there's an upside to the pink product overkill, it's this: It often prompts us to slow down for a moment and wonder, "Am I really doing everything I can to prevent this life-threatening disease from happening to me?"
Sure it's easy to scoff at some of the more ridiculous behaviors that supposedly cause cancer, like gabbing on your cell phone for more than 10 minutes a day or eating too many French fries. But admit it -- instead of chalking these risk factors up to being totally ludicrous, you have a nagging suspicion that some of them might actually be true.
Breathe.
Before you drop $100 on a state-of-the-art cell phone headset or boycott McDonald's for good, keep reading. Dr. Ruemu E. Birhiray, MD, a leading oncologist in Indianapolis, debunks some of the most prevalent myths about what causes breast cancer, so we can focus on the risk factors that matter most.
