Popular Nigerian urologist, Dr Sam Adegboye, has debunked claims that frequent sucking of women’s breasts reduces the risk of developing breast cancer.
Adegboye, Assistant Chief Medical Officer and General Practitioner at Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State, said on Sunday.
Some widely held beliefs include wearing bras or using deodorants causing breast cancer, which health experts have repeatedly dismissed as false.
The urologist stressed that women should learn to examine their breasts regularly to detect any unusual changes early.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard that men sucking their wives’ breasts can prevent breast cancer.
“There are many ways to reduce the risk of breast cancer. It starts with a healthy lifestyle. Women should learn self-examination techniques.
“They can find videos on YouTube showing how to properly examine their breasts at home,” Adegboye said.
He further explained that using contraceptives during adolescence might increase susceptibility to breast cancer due to hormonal changes.
“Certain habits from adolescence, like using contraceptive pills, can make women more prone to breast cancer.
“A major cause of breast cancer is hormonal imbalance, which can cause abnormal pain or growth in breast tissue,” Adegboye explained.
He added that trauma to the breast may contribute to the development of cancer and highlighted the importance of early detection.
Adegboye listed methods for checking breast health, including clinical breast examinations, mammography, and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (3D mammography).
Other diagnostic tools, according to him, include ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and biopsies, which involve removing tissue for further testing.
He advised women to maintain a balanced diet, avoid smoking, and adopt healthier habits to lower their breast cancer risk.
It is also wrongly believed that men cannot get breast cancer, that the disease is contagious, and that only older women are affected by it.
Another misconception is that only women with a family history of breast cancer can get it, or that it is always detectable by finding a lump.
According to the American Cancer Society and other health organisations, breast cancer risk involves complex factors including genetics, hormones, lifestyle choices, and environmental exposures.
