Breast Cancer Risks Myths vs. Facts

There seems to be lots of confusion and conflicting information around certain risk factors for breast cancer. So, let’s take a closer look at 4 myths and see what’s really true.

❌ Myth 1: Breast implants increase breast cancer risk

✅ Fact: Neither saline nor silicone breast implants are related to an increased risk of breast cancer. 

You may have heard about anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) in the news over the past couple of years. ALCL is a rare cancer of the cells of the immune system. When ALCL occurs in women with breast implants it’s called breast implant-associated ALCL (BIA-ALCL). BIA-ALCL is very treatable. As of May 2024, around 430 suspected or confirmed cases of BIA-ALCL have been reported in the U.S. 

❌ Myth 2:  Coffee increases breast cancer risk 

✅ Fact: An analysis of 37 different research studies found no link between caffeine or coffee intake and breast cancer risk. Some studies suggest women who drink a lot of coffee (with caffeine) may have a lower risk of breast cancer compared to women who don’t drink coffee. 

❌ Myth 3: Wearing an underwire bra increases breast cancer risk. 

✅ Fact: Scientific evidence does not support a link between wearing an underwire bra (or any type of bra) and breast cancer risk. 

❌ Myth 4: Trauma to the breast increases breast cancer risk. 

✅ Fact: There’s no evidence to support a link between trauma or injury to the breast and the risk of breast cancer. 

It’s because of this confusion and massive amount of conflicting information floating around that I’m passionate about helping women at increased risk of breast cancer know what their risks really are and how to make changes that can decrease their risk. 

I know what it’s like to be at high risk of breast cancer and not know where to start trying to decrease your risk. It can be frustrating and overwhelming. Therefore, I’ve made it my mission to teach busy women how to decrease their risk of breast cancer with simple, easy-to-incorporate lifestyle changes without adding more stress or confusion to their lives. I’ll continue to show you clear, specific ways you can easily decrease your risk of breast cancer!