If detected and treated early enough, breast cancer need not result in death. Early detection can save lives and breasts. In fact, the 5-year survival rate for women who are diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer is 90 per cent.

More and more women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have no prior family history of the disease proving that breast cancer is not always hereditary. In Singapore, over 90 per cent of breast cancer patients have no incidence of cancers in their families.

This myth has not been proven by research. In fact, someone who has smaller breasts has an equal chance of getting breast cancer as one who is well-endowed. Being overweight, however, does increase your risk.

According to Dr Wee Siew Bock, a consultant breast surgeon at Mount Elizabeth Hospital Orchard, there are many types of breast lumps and not all of them mean that you have breast cancer. A lump could appear due to fibrocystic changes. You could also have malignant or benign tumours, which are not cancerous but need to be monitored.

To date, there is no scientifically proven data to prove that this is the case. If you are worried about using chemicals on your body, however, and want to err on the side of caution, you can switch to natural deodorants but this will have no effect on whether you get cancer or not.

It may sound ridiculous but the belief in myths like this still exists. We’re here to state once and for all, that breast cancer is not infectious and cannot be spread through physical contact like sharing utensils, touching or having sex.

“There are many reasons why your breasts could be hurting but breast cancer is not usually it,” says Dr Wee. “Most breast cancers do not cause pain unless they are inflammatory or if a tumour is causing discomfort.” He adds that a painful breast could indicate that your menstruation is on the way or that you may simply be wearing a poorly-fitted bra.

A bruise or hit to the breast won’t cause cancer. If cancer develops in a spot that has been injured, it is purely a coincidence.

“A mammogram is the only screening tool that has been proven to reduce deaths related to breast cancer by 30 per cent,” says Dr Jendana Chanyaputhipong from PanAsia Surgery. Dr Ann Tan of Women Fertility & Fetal Centre, agrees, saying women should start going for yearly mammograms from the age of 40.

BCF, meanwhile, says that it’s important to have an annual check-up because breast cancer can occur at any time and a yearly mammogram – along with monthly breast self-examinations – can pick up abnormalities early.

Thankfully, a mastectomy is not necessary for all types of breast cancer. New medical advancements, recent research, and improved therapies mean that those diagnosed with breast cancer have a variety of options to combat breast cancer, depending on the stage and type. These can include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and even Cyro-ablation.