​​​​​​Behind skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis for female patients in the United States. It’s a disease that already impacts more than 4 million people nationwide. And this year, it will affect nearly 311,000 new patients.

Breast cancer detection and treatments have vastly improved over the past decade. But Ohio still has one of the highest mortality rates from the disease. Be Saito, MD, is a breast cancer specialist and surgical oncologist at The Christ Hospital Physicians – Surgical Oncology. She believes misunderstandings about the condition, how it’s detected and what increases your risk could be impacting treatment and chances for survival.

Here, she offers the truth about a few common breast cancer myths.

Myth #1: Mammograms are misleading

Mammograms — X-ray images that reveal breast lumps and lesions — are a critical part of early breast cancer detection. They can find lumps you can’t feel during a physical exam. Their detailed view of the tissue means you may be able to receive less aggressive treatment before the cancer becomes serious.

The myth exists because mammograms aren’t perfect, Dr. Saito says. False positives (diagnoses that incorrectly identify cells as cancerous) are possible. As many as 50 percent of patients will receive a false positive mammogram result during their lives. These results can lead to unnecessary biopsies. The scan itself can also be uncomfortable. Consequently, some female patients may be less likely to get the annual mammogram screenings they need after a false positive.

Despite these obstacles, Dr. Saito reminds women that getting a mammogram every year is important because it provides valuable information.

“Just because you may get a false positive doesn’t mean you should stop getting mammograms. Getting a biopsy is better than skipping the scan, missing a cancerous lump or lesion and having to deal with chemotherapy six months later,” she says. “Plus, if there’s something suspicious enough on your mammogram to trigger a biopsy, your breast tissue may be vulnerable to abnormal growths. Regular mammograms let us keep an eye on your breast health.”

Myth #2: Breast cancer only affects older patients

According to the American Cancer Society, the average age of a patient diagnosed with breast cancer is 62 years old. But today, doctors are starting to detect the disease in younger female patients.

“I see this trend in real-time. It’s surprised me how many young women I see every week — some as young as their 20s — who are showing up with breast cancer,” Dr. Saito says. “Many of these women are too young to have had a mammogram. So, these are larger, more aggressive cancers that they’re finding on self-exams.”

Statistics from a recent study by Lancet Public Health​ confirm the trend, by ​naming breast cancer as one of the 17 types of cancer that have seen rising incidence rates in younger adults.

Dr. Saito says it’s a concerning trend because doctors don’t yet know why breast cancers are developing in younger patients. Consequently, it’s important to know your risk factors, such as having a family history of breast cancer or other cancers linked to the disease, like prostate or pancreatic cancer. If you have a family history, talk with your doctor about getting your first mammogram 10 years before the age your family member received their diagnosis.

Myth #3: Breast cancer is less common in female patients with small breasts

Breast size does not impact your risk for breast cancer, Dr. Saito says. The makeup of your breast tissue determines your risk instead. If you have dense breast tissue with less fat, your breast cancer risk is slightly higher.

A mammogram can tell you if you have dense breast tissue. But it’s also easier for breast cancers to hide on these scans. Both dense tissue and breast cancers show up white and grey on mammograms.

“The similarity between dense tissue and cancer is the reason why we offer breast MRI as a follow-up scan for women with dense breasts,” she says. “It’s a more effective way to find cancers in dense tissue.”

The Christ Hospital also offers digital breast tomosynthesis, an advanced 3D mammogram​ that can effectively detect breast cancers in female patients with dense breasts.

Healthy tips to limit breast cancer risk

Regular breast cancer screening is critical to catching breast cancer early when it’s the most treatable. Dr. Saito says you can also take several other steps to reduce your risk.

​Practice these healthy behaviors to protect your well-being:

• Eat a healthy, low-fat, anti-inflammatory diet.

• Exercise two to three hours a week to lower your risk by 10 to 20 percent.

• Limit alcohol to no more than three drinks a week. Drinking even one drink a day boosts your risk by roughly 10 percent.

• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight after menopause increases your estrogen levels, raising your breast cancer risk.

• Perform regular breast self-exams. Only do this once a month on the same day because your breast tissue changes throughout the month based on your hormones.

• Quit smoking or vaping​.

Information about breast cancer can be co​​nfusing, Dr. Saito says. So, it’s important to know your family history, schedule your annual mammogram screening and talk with your doctor.

“Cancer is scary. But having breast cancer, particularly, is probably better than having diabetes or high blood pressure,” she says. “When we catch it early, breast cancer is very, very treatable.”