Myth #26: All breast cancer research is good because it moves us toward prevention and a cure.

FALSE. Not all breast cancer research is created equal. Science can be complex and research must be well designed and rigorous. No matter what kind of research. But it is not just about research design. If research focuses on issues that ultimately will not help people, it doesn’t matter how scientifically sound the research is.

It seems hard to believe that breast cancer research is not always valuable. But the truth is, poorly designed research – including clinical trials – provide no meaningful information, and can actually be harmful because the results can be very misleading. On the other hand, the most elegant study in the world can only answer the questions it was designed to answer. A small and limited research question will inevitably produce a small and limited answer.

There are many potential breast cancer research topics. The scientific community alone should not prioritize research based on what’s most important to them. What’s important to patients has to be a main component. That’s why breast cancer advocates need to be involved in all levels of the research process. NBCC trains breast cancer advocates so they can help shape the future of breast cancer research.

 
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Learn more about NBCC's Research Initiative. To make sure the right research occurs, make your voice heard. 

 

31 Myths and Truths about Breast Cancer

1
Myth #1: Monthly breast self exams save lives
2
Myth #2: Mammograms can only help and not harm you
3
Myth #3: MRI is better than mammography because it finds more cancer
4
Truth #4: When breast cancer shows up on a mammogram, it may have been in your body for 6-10 years
5
Truth #5: Breast cancer mortality rates are declining
6
Myth #6: Mammograms prevent breast cancer
7
Truth #7: We don’t know how to prevent breast cancer
8
Myth #8: Most women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease
9
Myth #9: Men don’t get breast cancer
10
Truth #10: Risk of breast cancer increases with age
11
Truth #11: Most people think they have a higher risk of breast cancer than they actually do
12
Myth #12: Everyone's breast cancer is the same
13
Myth #13: Everyone who has a positive BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 test result will get breast cancer
14
Truth #14: The mortality rate from breast cancer is higher for African American women than for Caucasian women
15
Myth #15: In terms of survival, removing the entire breast is better than just cutting the cancer out and getting radiation
16
Myth #16: There are drugs that can prevent breast cancer
17
Myth #17: Once diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s very important to make treatment decisions immediately
18
Myth #18: Second opinions are only for treatment options. Once I know I have breast cancer, I can get a second opinion on how to treat the disease
19
Truth #19: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases your risk of breast cancer
20
Myth #20: With new treatments we can now cure breast cancer
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Truth #21: You should question your doctor
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Myth #22: If I am not a scientist, then I won’t be able to understand breast cancer research
23
Truth #23: Your tax dollars fund a significant amount of breast cancer research
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Myth #24: My Senators and Members of Congress have no role in what happens in breast cancer
25
Myth #25: The media accurately reports breast cancer science
26
Myth #26: All breast cancer research is good because it moves us toward prevention and a cure
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Myth #27: Breast cancer survivors are too close to the issue to participate in how research money is spent
28
Truth #28: Less than 3% of adult cancer patients participate in clinical trials
29
Truth #29: I can educate myself
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Truth #30: I can influence what happens in Washington D.C. about breast cancer
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Truth #31: I can make a difference