“I believe there are so many myths surrounding breast cancer because there is so much fear and uncertainty surrounding a diagnosis,” says Sagar Sardesai, MD, a breast cancer oncologist and researcher at the OSUCCC – James Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center. On The James Cancer-Free World Podcast, Sardesai and Doreen Agnese, MD, debunk several myths related to breast cancer. Agnese says there are so many myths because “breast cancer is so common, and so a lot of people are talking about it, so there’s a lot of information out there that’s not accurate.” Some of the myths they discuss include: Nobody in my family has had breast cancer, so I’m not at risk. I don’t feel a lump, so I can’t have breast cancer. Only older women get breast cancer. If I maintain a healthy body weight, exercise and eat right, I can’t get breast cancer. Wearing a bra, stress and anxiety can cause breast cancer. Using underarm deodorant can cause the disease. Men don’t get breast cancer. These myths are not only wrong but can be dangerous. Myths, inaccurate information and lack of knowledge can prevent women from doing regular self-exams, getting their annual mammography screenings and being diagnosed at early stages, when the chances for successful treatment are much higher. “Screenings are so important,” Sardesai emphasizes. “When it comes to fighting cancer, early detection has a huge role in terms of increasing the survival rate.”