Busting Breast Cancer Myths

— -- More than 270,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Of those, 40,410 are expected to die.

These are the hard facts about breast cancer, but on the first Monday of October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, "Good Morning America" teamed up with Self magazine to bust some of the myths surrounding breast cancer.

Lucy Danziger, the magazine's editor in chief, reminded viewers of the "Three A's" to fighting breast cancer -- awareness, action and advocacy. She also debunked several myths surrounding breast cancer, including:

• Worry only if breast cancer is in your family
• Father's family history doesn't count
• Mammograms prevent breast cancer
• Deodorants cause breast cancer
• If you have breast cancer, you will need a mastectomy
• Breast cancer is an emergency

Worry only if breast cancer is in your family. No more than 10 percent is hereditary, so just because it's in your family doesn't mean you're doomed. But family history is relevant. Be sure to give your doctor a complete family history, and if there is breast cancer in your family, get yearly mammograms if you're over 40.

Father's family history doesn't count. A diagnosis in your dad's family is just as important as one in your mother's. And on either side, a diagnosis before menopause means the cancer is more likely to be hereditary. After menopause, the possibilities regarding the cause of the cancer expand.

Mammograms prevent cancer. Mammograms don't prevent cancer, but they are the best diagnostic tool because they alert doctors to changes in your breast. Women should begin having mammograms at 40. But if there's a history of breast cancer in your family, your doctor may recommend starting earlier.

Deodorants cause breast cancer. If you've received that chain e-mail, delete it. There might be confusion because women are told not to wear deodorant when they are having a mammogram because particles in the deodorant might show up on the mammogram and cause confusion when the specialist is evaluating the test.