Myths & Truths

22 Myths and Truths

WARNING: Hearing the truth about breast cancer may surprise you. And it should motivate you.

It’s time to move beyond awareness to action.

Learn the facts, backed by science.

Our breast cancer myths and truths are backed by science, documented by credible and trusted sources, and are chosen because they are often misunderstood by or misrepresented to the general public.

We challenge you to become educated, speak up on behalf of women and men everywhere, and take action to end this disease. We also call on you to help us spread this message to people you know: friends, family, coworkers, anyone who cares about ending breast cancer.

We will show you the way and give you the tools to get involved and make a difference.

1. Myth: Monthly breast self-exams save lives
2. Myth: Mammograms can only help and not harm you
3. Myth: MRI is better than mammography because it finds more cancer
4. Myth: If breast cancer is diagnosed when the tumor is small, it can be cured
5. Truth: Breast cancer mortality rates are declining
6. Truth: The mortality rate from breast cancer is higher for African American women than for Caucasian women
7. Myth: Everyone's breast cancer is the same
8. Truth: We don't know how to prevent breast cancer
9. Myth: Most women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease
10. Myth: Men don't get breast cancer
11. Truth: Risk of breast cancer is often misunderstood; it increases with age; 50% of breast cancer occurs among women aged 62 years or older
12. Myth: In terms of survival, removing the entire breast is better than just removing the cancer
13. Myth: Once diagnosed with breast cancer, it's very important to make treatment decisions immediately
14. Myth: Second opinions are only for treatment options
15. Truth: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases your risk of breast cancer
16. Myth: All breast cancer research is good because it moves us toward prevention and a cure
17. Myth: With new treatments, we can now cure breast cancer
18. Myth: If I am not a scientist, then I won't be able to understand or influence breast cancer research
19. Truth: Your tax dollars fund a significant amount of breast cancer research
20. Myth: My Senators and Members of Congress have no role in what happens in breast cancer
21. Truth: I can influence what happens about breast cancer in state legislatures and Washington D.C.
22. Truth: I can educate myself and become a leader in the movement to end breast cancer

Myth and Truth Conversation Resources

We know it’s not easy to begin this conversation. But you must.

It starts at the kitchen table, at work, on the playground, in the exam room, on the phone. So brush up on your facts and myths.

Get going with your conversation about breast cancer with these “How To” guides:

How to Talk to My Friends and Family
How to Talk to Health Care Professionals
How to Talk to My Elected Officials
How to Talk to the Media

Test Your Breast Cancer Knowledge

Take the Quiz