5 Myths About Cancer

The "C" word is scary enough without misinformation making things worse. Here are a few "I've heards" that you don't need to listen to anymore.

- By Kate Rockwood

1 MYTH: Most cancers are caused by inherited gene mutations.

Only 5% to 10% of cancer cases are strongly linked to inherited gene mutations. Prostate cancer and certain breast cancers do run in families, but the rest are caused mainly by factors like aging, lifestyle, and environment. That means many cancer risks are modifiable via your choices. While you can't prevent aging, you can lessen other major cancer risk factors by quitting smoking, limiting sun exposure, staying up. to date on vaccines,drinking less alcohol, avoiding or limiting processed meats, and doing what you can to maintain a healthy weight, says Timothy Rebbeck, Ph.D., a professor of cancer prevention at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

2 MYTH: Deodorant causes breast cancer.

Multiple studies have found no link between deodorant (with or without aluminum) and breast cancer, says Annie Chiu, M.D., a dermatologist with The Derm Institute in Redondo Beach, CA. That includes a study of roughly 1,600 women with and without breast cancer. Another study found that the amount of aluminum absorbed into the skin from antiperspirants was very small-less than what people get from eating food.