Five Breast Cancer Myths Debunked

We separate the truths from the lies about breast cancer.

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Myth 1: You Are Only at Risk of Developing Breast Cancer If You Have Family History - Fact: About 70 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history. But if you do have a first-degree relative (mom, sister, child) who has had breast cancer, your risk of contracting the disease doubles.—From BlackHealthMatters.com. (Photo: GettyImages)

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Myth 2: If Air Hits a Tumor During Surgery, It Causes the Cancer to Spread - Fact: Surgery doesn't cause breast cancer—or any cancer for that matter—to spread.(Photo: Martin Kawalski/GettyImages)

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Myth 3: If You Have Small Breasts, You Are Immune to Getting Breast Cancer - Fact: Breast size has absolutely no connection to your risk of breast cancer. But it can be more difficult to examine larger breasts.(Photo: Sydney Shaffer/GettyImages)

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Myth 4: Your Caffeine Habit Increases Your Risk of Developing Cancer - Fact: There's no link between caffeine and breast cancer, so you can keep tossing back your morning cup of Joe. However, doctors are still studying the link between caffeine and breast soreness.(photo: REUTERS/Joel Boh)

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Annual Mammograms Increase Your Risk Because of the Radiation Exposure - Fact: There is some exposure to radiation from a mammogram, but it's a very small amount. Experts say the benefits outweigh the risks, and the American Cancer Society still recommends all women age 40 and older have an annual screening mammogram.(Photo: Keith Brofsky/GettyImages)