Although breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and should be given a lot of attention, not all lumps that develop in the breast or are felt by women are necessarily cancer, and if they are cancerous, they can be diagnosed early. And they will be treated quickly, but many women are very worried and anxious when they see a lump in the breast and are even afraid to see a doctor. About 40% of women experience lumps in their breasts at some point in their lives.

Here are seven common mistakes women make about this cancer:

1.Breast lumps are almost always cancerous

It is a misconception that any lump in the breast means cancer. According to researchers at the American Cancer Society, although every woman who feels a lump in her breast should think about cancer to prove the opposite, this should not be a concern for women. The older a woman is, the more likely she is to be one of 7 to 8 people with breast cancer. Breast lumps are also more likely to become cancerous in older women and women approaching menopause or menopausal. When a breast mass is not cancerous, why might it have formed? These lumps may be cysts that are not usually dangerous, but may be abnormal and abnormal cell growth, such as fibroadenoma, which is less common, or blood clots that cause a mass. Also, these false masses may be caused by hormonal changes, which in fact are not masses at all.

However, whatever the cause of breast lumps, they should not be neglected and should be reassured by a doctor that they are not dangerous. Sometimes it is necessary to have a physical examination by a doctor, and sometimes it is necessary to have a mammogram, and sometimes it is necessary to have an ultrasound. By doing these tests, the cause of breast masses will be determined exactly.

2.Breast cancer is always accompanied by palpable lumps

It’s not always like this. Breast cancers are not always associated with lumps, say researchers at Lombardy University in George Washington. Sometimes, before a woman feels a lump in her breast, a mammogram reveals that she has breast cancer. Many cancers are diagnosed during mammography screening tests.

3.Cancerous masses are different from benign masses

If you think so, know that cancerous tumors are not always different from benign tumors. Cancerous masses and noncancerous or benign masses may be confused. Women often think that when there is a cancerous mass, they feel it as a hard mass that does not move around. However, breast masses may also be soft and motile. Therefore, it cannot always be said that hard, cancerous masses and soft masses are harmless.

Cysts can cause a burning sensation if they are deep. But if these cysts are superficial, they often feel soft and round. If the breast masses are deep, they are able to push the breast tissue forward. Sometimes lumps that appear benign, soft, and motile to the touch can be cancerous. Tumors that women feel scratched or burning to the touch are usually benign, but the best advice is to check if you have any feelings when you feel them.

4.You should not worry about small masses

It is a misconception that one should not feel anxious by touching small lumps in the breast. Cancer masses can be very small at the time of onset. The size of the breast mass is not a good way to decide if it is safe or cancerous. In some women, breast lumps are the size of a pea, and in others they can be as large as a grapefruit. Mammography reveals even very small lumps. When women really feel lumps in their breasts, they are usually less than 2.5 cm in diameter, something like a cherry.

5.Urgent referral is not necessary

Get rid of the misconception that you should not see a doctor right away by touching a lump. Especially if you are a woman who is a little older, it is not right to delay the visit and follow-up of the breast mass. Any lump in the breast should be thoroughly evaluated by a doctor. Sometimes your doctor will recommend that you go for more checkups after your period. This mass may be a cyst and changes with menstruation and hormonal changes. Women approaching menopause are less likely to experience hormonal changes due to hormonal effects, so breast evaluations should not be delayed.

 But the question arises when to see a doctor?

Doctors recommend that at any age, be sure to see a doctor no later than 2 to 4 weeks after touching the mass. It is even better to see a doctor immediately after touching the lump. It is the doctor who determines the time of the next visit and the women themselves should not decide on it. Some women compare themselves to those around them and acquaintances and do not see a doctor because they think their breast mass may be and it goes away. On the other hand, if it is a cancerous mass, even a week or a month is valuable for treatment, especially if the person is young.

6. A lump can be cancerous, even in women who do not have a family history of cancer

This belief is not absolute. Only 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are inherited. The majority of women with breast cancer have no risk factors. So it is not true that if a woman lived in a family with no history of cancer, breast lumps would never become cancerous.

7.In women with a history of cysts, breast lumps are not cancerous

Some women who have had cysts in their breasts for many years should not think that these cysts will not be a concern, as the cysts may also change and turn into cancerous masses.

All women should be aware that whenever they find a new lump in their breasts, they should see a doctor immediately to alleviate their worries, as the lump may not be the same as the old cysts.