Site Logo Site Logo
Donate HOPE Kits
  • About Breast Cancer
  • Find Support
  • Get Involved
  • More
    • Our Impact
    • About NBCF
    • Free Resources
    • NBCF Blog
    • Mammogram Pledge
    • In The News
    • Recursos en Español
    • Contact Us
Site Logo
  • About Breast Cancer
  • Find Support
  • Get Involved
  • More
    • Our Impact
    • About NBCF
    • Free Resources
    • NBCF Blog
    • Mammogram Pledge
    • In The News
    • Recursos en Español
    • Contact Us
Donate HOPE Kits

About Breast Cancer > FAQs

  • What is Breast Cancer?
    • What Is Cancer?
    • Causes of Breast Cancer
    • Breast Cancer Facts & Stats
    • Breast Tumors
    • Breast Anatomy
    • Male Breast Cancer
    • Growth of Cancer
    • Risk Factors
    • Breast Cancer Genetics
      • Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer
      • Other Breast Cancer Genes
      • BRCA: The Breast Cancer Gene
      • What To Do If You Tested Positive
  • Early Detection
    • Breast Cancer Symptoms and Signs
    • Breast Lump
    • Breast Pain
    • Breast Cyst
    • Breast Self-Exam
    • Clinical Breast Exam
    • Mammogram
    • How to Schedule a Mammogram
    • Healthy Habits
  • Diagnosis
    • Diagnostic Mammogram
    • Ultrasound
    • MRI
    • Breast Biopsy
    • Lab Tests
    • Waiting For Results
  • Stages
    • Breast Cancer Stages
    • Stages 0 & 1
    • Stage 2 (II) And Stage 2A (IIA)
    • Stage 3 (III) A, B, And C
    • Stage 4 (IV) Breast Cancer
  • Types of Breast Cancer
    • Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS)
    • Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)
    • Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS)
    • Invasive Lobular Cancer (ILC)
    • Triple Negative Breast Cancer
    • Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)
    • Metastatic Breast Cancer
    • Breast Cancer During Pregnancy
    • Other Types
  • Treatment
    • Choosing Your Doctor
    • Surgery
      • Lymph Node Removal & Lymphedema
      • Breast Reconstruction
      • Lumpectomy
      • Mastectomy
    • Chemotherapy
    • Radiation Therapy
    • Hormone Therapy
    • Targeted Therapy
    • Metastatic Breast Cancer Trial Search
    • Standard Treatment vs. Clinical Trials
    • Physical Activity, Wellness & Nutrition
    • Bone Health Guide for Breast Cancer Survivors in 2022
    • Follow-Up Care
  • Breast Cancer Myths
    • Myth: Finding a lump in your breast means you have breast cancer
    • Myth: Men do not get breast cancer; it affects women only
    • Myth: A mammogram can cause breast cancer or spread it
    • Myth: If you have a family history of breast cancer, you are likely to develop breast cancer, too
    • Myth: Breast cancer is contagious
    • Myth: If the gene mutation BRCA1 or BRCA2 is detected in your DNA, you will definitely develop breast cancer
    • Myth: Antiperspirants and deodorants cause breast cancer
    • Myth: A breast injury can cause breast cancer
    • Myth: Breast cancer is more common in women with bigger breasts
    • Myth: Breast cancer only affects middle-aged or older women
    • Myth: Breast pain is a definite sign of breast cancer
    • Myth: Consuming sugar causes breast cancer
    • Myth: Carrying a phone in your bra can cause breast cancer
    • Myth: IVF increases the risk of breast cancer
    • Myth: All breast cancers are the same
    • Myth: Bras with underwire can cause breast cancer
  • FAQs
    • Can physical activity reduce the risk of breast cancer?
    • Can a healthy diet help to prevent breast cancer?
    • Does smoking cause breast cancer?
    • Can drinking alcohol increase the risk of breast cancer?
    • Is there a link between oral contraceptives and breast cancer?
    • Is there a link between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and breast cancer?
    • How often should I do a breast self exam (BSE)?
    • Does a family history of breast cancer put someone at a higher risk?
    • Are mammograms painful?
    • How does menstrual and reproductive history affect breast cancer risks?
    • How often should I go to my doctor for a check-up?
    • What kind of impact does stress have on breast cancer?
    • What celebrities have or have had breast cancer?
    • Where can I find a breast cancer support group?
    • Can breastfeeding reduce the risk of breast cancer?
    • Is dairy (milk) linked to a higher risk of breast cancer?
    • Is hair dye linked to a higher risk of breast cancer?
  • Free Educational Guides
    • NEW! How to Talk About Breast Health
    • Family Medical History Checklist
    • Healthy Recipes for Cancer Patients eBook
    • Breast Reconstruction Guide
    • eBook Quiz
    • Chemo Messages
    • Most Asked Questions About Breast Cancer Recurrence
    • Breast Problems That Arent Breast Cancer eBook
    • Nutrition Care for Breast Cancer Patients eBook
    • Finding Hope that Heals eBook
    • Dense Breasts Q&A Guide
    • Breast Cancer Recurrence eBook
    • What to Say to a Cancer Patient eBook
    • Weekly Healthy Living Tips
    • Bra Fit Guide
    • Know the Symptoms Guide
    • Breast Health Guide
    • Mammogram 101 eBook
    • 3 Steps to Early Detection Guide
    • Abnormal Mammogram eBook
    • Healthy Living & Personal Risk Guide
    • What Every Woman Needs to Know eBook
  • Breast Cancer Resources

FAQs

Get answers to frequently asked questions about breast cancer.
Is dairy (milk) linked to a higher risk of breast cancer? There is limited evidence suggesting that higher intakes of dairy milk were associated with greater  ...Read More
Is hair dye linked to a higher risk of breast cancer? Women who use permanent hair dye and chemical hair straighteners have a higher risk of  ...Read More
Can breastfeeding reduce the risk of breast cancer? Breastfeeding can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.
Can physical activity reduce the risk of breast cancer? Exercise boosts the immune system and helps you to keep your weight in check. With  ...Read More
Can a healthy diet help to prevent breast cancer? A nutritious, low-fat diet (30 grams or less) with plenty of fruits and green and  ...Read More
Does smoking cause breast cancer? Smoking is a confirmed risk factor for many types of cancer. Recent research in the  ...Read More
Can drinking alcohol increase the risk of breast cancer? Moderation is key. One drink per day has been shown to slightly increase the risk  ...Read More
Is there a link between oral contraceptives and breast cancer? There is an increased risk of breast cancer for women who have been using birth  ...Read More
Is there a link between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and breast cancer? Yes, there is. HRT was added to the carcinogenic list by the American Cancer Society  ...Read More
How often should I do a breast self exam (BSE)? Give yourself a breast self-exam once a month. Look for any changes in breast tissue,  ...Read More
Does a family history of breast cancer put someone at a higher risk? Although women who have a family history of breast cancer are in a higher risk  ...Read More
Are mammograms painful? Mammography does compress the breasts and can sometimes cause slight discomfort for a very brief  ...Read More
How does menstrual and reproductive history affect breast cancer risks? Women who began their menstrual cycles before age 12, or have no biological children, or  ...Read More
How often should I go to my doctor for a check-up? You should have a physical every year which should include a clinical breast exam and  ...Read More
What kind of impact does stress have on breast cancer? In 2012, some research studies have shown that factors such as traumatic events and losses  ...Read More
What celebrities have or have had breast cancer? One in eight women will develop breast cancer at some point in her life. This  ...Read More
Where can I find a breast cancer support group? You don’t have to face breast cancer alone. Having the support of others is an  ...Read More
National Breast Cancer Foundation Logo
Join the Cause:

ABOUT BREAST CANCER
  • What Is Breast Cancer?
  • Early Detection
  • Diagnosis
  • Stages
  • Types of Breast Cancer
  • Treatment
  • Breast Cancer Myths
  • Breast Cancer FAQs
  • Free Educational Guides
  • Breast Cancer Resources
FIND SUPPORT
  • National Mammography Program
  • Patient Navigator Program
  • HOPE Kit
  • Metastatic Breast Cancer Retreats
  • Breast Cancer Support Group
  • Breast Health Education
  • Breast Cancer Awareness in the Workplace
  • Breast Cancer Research
GET INVOLVED
  • Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  • Give
  • Corporate Partnership
  • Fundraise
  • Charitable Partner Learning Center
  • Game Pink
  • NBCF Shop
  • Volunteer
  • Manage My Donation
ABOUT NBCF
  • The NBCF Story
  • Our Impact
  • Our Founder
  • Our Corporate Partners
  • People
  • Careers
  • Financial Reports
  • Contact Us
  • Media Inquiries
  • Sitemap
Charity Navigator Four Star v01 white
Great Nonprofits badge White 2022 v01
Guidestar 2023 white
Instagram social link Facebook social link YouTube social link Twitter social link LinkedIn social link
PO Box 676910, Dallas, TX 75267-6910
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Trademark Licensing
  • Contact Us
©2022 National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization with a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. All rights reserved. Site by GLIDE.

We use cookies on our website to personalize your experience and improve our efforts. By continuing, you agree to the terms of our Privacy & Cookies Policies.

I Agree
I consent to the use of following cookies:
Cookie Declaration About Cookies
Necessary (0) Marketing (0) Analytics (0) Preferences (0) Unclassified (0)
Necessary cookies help make a website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. The website cannot function properly without these cookies.
We do not use cookies of this type.
Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for the individual user and thereby more valuable for publishers and third party advertisers.
We do not use cookies of this type.
Analytics cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously.
We do not use cookies of this type.
Preference cookies enable a website to remember information that changes the way the website behaves or looks, like your preferred language or the region that you are in.
We do not use cookies of this type.
Unclassified cookies are cookies that we are in the process of classifying, together with the providers of individual cookies.
We do not use cookies of this type.
Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient. The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. For all other types of cookies we need your permission. This site uses different types of cookies. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages.