Breast Cancer Myths vs. Facts

Nadia Miller, president of Pink-4-Ever, and Lisa Hayes, executive director of R.E.D. Alliance

Breast Cancer Myths vs. Facts

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. “In Indiana, during 2016, the breast cancer incidence rates for African American and white women were similar, but the death rate for African American women was 46 percent higher than for whites.” (Source: Indiana State Department of Health)

With eyebrow-raising statistics like that, breast cancer survivors heading two local organizations, Lisa Hayes, executive director of R.E.D. Alliance, and Nadia Miller, president of Pink-4-Ever, are fueled by their own personal experiences as they seek to advocate for other black women facing the disease.

Miller and Hayes and their organizations recently partnered with Bryan P. Schneider, MD, a Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research Investigator in Oncology, to debunk myths surrounding breast cancer in the African American community. The partnership, supported by the Indiana University Grand Challenge Precision Health Initiative, created videos and flyers that seek to set the record straight.

Myth vs Fact: I will only get breast cancer if it runs in my family.

Myth vs. Fact in Breast Cancer: I will only get breast cancer if it runs in my family
from D Scott Media, Inc. on Vimeo.

Myth vs Fact: I only need to get a mammogram every three years.

Myth vs. Fact in Breast Cancer: I only need to get a mammogram every three years
from D Scott Media, Inc. on Vimeo.

Myth vs Fact: I should avoid going to the doctor because they might diagnose me with cancer.

Myth vs. Fact in Breast Cancer: I should avoid going to the doctor because they might diagnose me with cancer
from D Scott Media, Inc. on Vimeo.

Myth vs Fact: There's nothing I can do if my doctor doesn't listen to me.

Myth vs Fact in Breast Cancer: There’s nothing I can do if my doctor doesn’t listen to me
from D Scott Media, Inc. on Vimeo.

Myth vs Fact: I don't need to participate in research.

Myth vs. Fact in Breast Cancer: I don’t need to participate in research
from D Scott Media, Inc. on Vimeo.

Myth vs Fact: Being a patient means experiments will be done without my permission.

Myth vs Fact in Breast Cancer: Being a patient means experiments will be done without my permission
from D Scott Media, Inc. on Vimeo.

The R.E.D. Alliance, which stands for Reaching to End Disparities Alliance, works to reduce breast cancer late-stage diagnoses and death rates for African American women by collaborating with researchers, health professionals, health care organizations, community and government agencies, and breast cancer survivors. Pink-4-Ever works to dispel myths about breast cancer and create an environment in the minority community in which people feel comfortable talking about the disease.

Do you have a great resource about breast cancer myths and facts?

Email us at inhealth@iu.edu to submit your resource