It’s a sad reality that most of us will know, or know of, someone who’s been affected by breast cancer.
Nearly 16,000 Australians will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, but despite growing awareness and education major confusion and misconceptions about this disease still pervades.
To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we consulted the experts to separate fact from fiction – and bust the breast cancer myths that are exactly that.
Myth 1: Having breast implants increases your risk of breast cancer.
Nope.
“Data from large studies, including extended follow up for almost four decades, provide no evidence of increased risk of breast cancer for women with breast implants,” Professor Helen Zorbas, Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Australia, told Mamamia.
“However, a possible association between breast implants and a rare type of cancer called Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma remains the subject of ongoing monitoring and research.” (Post continues after gallery.)

Myth 2: Only older women get breast cancer.
Unfortunately while a large number of women diagnosed with breast cancer are older, it’s a disease that can affect all ages.
According to the Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), around five per cent of all breast cancers in Australia are in women between the ages of 20 and 39 years old.
“About 800 women under the age of 40 will be diagnosed in Australia this year,” says Christine Nolan, CEO of Breast Cancer Network Australia.
Myth 3: The type of bra you wear can increase your risk of breast cancer.
A common myth is that underwire in your bra, or wearing a bra at night, is linked to breast cancer.
“Wearing your bra to bed will not cause a girl to develop cancer or stunt her breast growth. It’s also not true that underwire bras cause breast cancer,” Mary L. Gavin MD, Senior Medical Editor told KidsHealth.
The BCNA also maintains there is no evidence to suggest that it increases your risk of breast cancer.
WATCH: Mia Freedman has a bra epiphany. Post continues after video.