Breast Cancer Isn't One-Size-Fits-All
- Not everyone embraces pink: The pink ribbon is iconic, but not all survivors feel represented by it, and men — who account for over 2,800 diagnoses annually according to the American Cancer Society — are often left out of awareness campaigns.
- Chemotherapy isn’t universal: Thanks to genomic testing like Oncotype DX, many women can safely skip chemo and opt for hormone therapy instead, depending on their cancer’s biology.
- Survival isn’t guaranteed: While many women live long lives after diagnosis, metastatic breast cancer remains incurable, and survival depends on subtype, stage, and access to treatment.
- Access to care isn’t just for the wealthy: Major cancer centers accept Medicare and Medicaid, and many offer financial assistance, advocacy support, and community-based care to reduce disparities.
- Life after treatment isn’t always easy: Survivors often face mental health challenges, lingering side effects, and emotional recovery long after treatment ends. Supportive care is essential but underutilized.
- Breast cancer isn’t one disease: It includes multiple subtypes — like HER2-positive and triple negative — each requiring distinct treatment strategies, which continue to evolve through research.
Even with breast cancer touching millions of lives, misconceptions still cloud the conversation—shaping false beliefs about who’s at risk, how treatment works, and what life after cancer truly looks like.
Read MoreMYTH #1: So Much Progress Has Been Made In Breast Cancer That Everyone Survives
While 90% of women diagnosed with breast cancer do not die from the cancer, metastatic breast cancer, or cancer that has spread beyond the breast, is still incurable, and many women still don’t live.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the U.S. It has become the focus of much research, which has led to new and breakthrough treatments that are dramatically improving the outlook for people with this cancer. Our experts say research is the only path to a cure.
“The advances are coming at a pace that’s never been more electrified,” Myra Biblowit, the president of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), a nonprofit organization known for its breast cancer pink ribbon campaign, previously said to SurvivorNet.
However, Biblowit said these advances and research need funding to move forward.
Evelyn Lauder founded BCRF in 1993. Lauder, the daughter-in-law of Estée Lauder’s founder, decided to utilize her wealth and public influence to fundamentally change the fight against cancer. Lauder and her partners at BCRF believed that funding was the key obstacle standing between breast cancer and a cure.
But the good news is that it’s now possible for women with late-stage breast cancer to do very well for long periods of time. There are many options, both new and old, to treat metastatic breast cancer.
For instance, targeted treatment is available for women with HER2-positive breast cancer, meaning they have high levels of a protein called HER2 on the surface of their cancer cells. Drugs such as trastuzumab (Herceptin) and pertuzumab (Perjeta) have transformed the outlook for some women with late-stage breast cancer. These therapies, which are often combined with chemotherapy, can be effective at controlling metastatic breast cancer for many years.
Late-Stage Breast Cancer Treatment Options Explained
In addition, there have been advancements in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease that can be difficult to treat because it lacks any of the main drivers of breast cancer: the estrogen receptor, the progesterone receptor, and the HER2 receptor, and it doesn’t respond to treatments that target these receptors.
MYTH #2: All Breast Cancer Survivors Like Pink
Many of us have come to associate the color pink with breast cancer. Pink ribbons, pink pins, pink socks, and many other ornaments and clothing represent breast cancer awareness. While we love the support and awareness that pink brings to breast cancer, it’s important to remember that men can get breast cancer too, and not every person is comfortable sharing their cancer diagnosis publicly.
While it’s a small number compared to the incidence in women, every year in the U.S., about 2,800 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer. The American Cancer Society also says breast cancer is about 100 times less common in white men than white women and about 70 times less common among Black men than Black women.
Remember, if you don’t feel like donning pink or feel uncomfortable expressing yourself that way, it’s okay.
MYTH #3: Everyone Gets Chemotherapy
While chemotherapy remains an effective treatment for certain breast cancer patients, there has been a notable shift in how chemotherapy is given to patients with breast cancer in recent years.
You may have read about the TAILORx trial, a total game-changer when it comes to diagnosing and treating breast cancer. The study found that thousands of women would actually not benefit from chemotherapy, and can have their cancer treated by hormone therapy alone.
Doctors use the Oncotype DX test to determine if a woman has a good enough prognosis to avoid the risks and side effects associated with chemotherapy. Whether a patient needs chemotherapy depends on their age and Oncotype score.
Understanding the Oncotype DX Test
If a person’s score is low enough, that means their prognosis will not improve with chemotherapy, and they can be spared the treatment.
“It means tens of thousands of women who we might otherwise give chemotherapy to have such a good prognosis from their cancer, the chemotherapy would not improve their outcomes from their cancer, and they could do hormonal therapy alone,” said Dr. Elizabeth Comen, medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet.
Additionally, there are different therapies, such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy, to help treat certain types of breast cancer patients. Recent trials have paired immunotherapy with chemotherapy and targeted agents, showing potential in treating the disease.
A newer class of targeted therapy drugs called kinase inhibitors can help treat metastatic breast cancers. These drugs target two kinase proteins, called cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6, that normally regulate the cell cycle and division. Three CDK 4/6 inhibitors are available: palbociclib (Ibrance), ribociclib (Kisqali), and abemaciclib (Verzenio).
These drugs are primarily used in women with hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer. When they are combined with other hormone therapies, many women can have up to two years of their cancer not getting any worse.
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The bottom line for those thinking all breast cancer patients get chemotherapy is that it depends on what stage the cancer is in, among other variables, before a chemotherapy treatment is decided. It is helpful to ask your care team about all of your treatment options and express your concerns about potential side effects before a treatment decision is made.
MYTH #4: If You Don’t Have Money or Connections, You Can’t Get the Best Treatment
While money does matter, many major cancer centers are required to take a certain number of patients with Medicare and Medicaid.
Health insurance is unlikely to cover 100 percent of a cancer treatment, but there are resources available. For example, it’s common for doctors to get on the phone and advocate on your behalf with your insurance company. Many drug companies and clinical trials also offer patient assistance programs.
Dr. Nina Shah, a hematologist at the Hematology and Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinic, explains how cancer patients can get financial assistance.
It is worth checking if you are eligible for these assistance programs. The social workers and patient navigators at your cancer care clinic can help guide you through the various options available. Patients concerned about the costs – financial and otherwise – of much-needed cancer treatment should also explore local health advocacy groups to find more sources of support.
One example is the Ralph Lauren Cancer Center in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood. It offers cancer patients in Harlem and surrounding neighborhoods access to high-quality care.
Sloan Kettering’s Dr. Lewis Kampel previously sat down for an interview with SurvivorNet, where he explained his history with the Center.
“The Ralph Lauren Cancer Center was developed more than 15 years ago with the charge of reducing disparities in cancer incidence and impact in Harlem and surrounding communities,” Dr. Kampel said. “We do that by providing screening services, preventative services, and treatment services, along with other services to patients who might otherwise have trouble getting care.”
MYTH #5: After Treatment, Life Is Great Again
For many people faced with cancer treatment, they know the process of undergoing treatment is only the beginning. Once treatment is finished and the cancer bell rings, that milestone moment is not the end, but just a new beginning. Taking care of yourself afterwards, you’re done with treatment, is sometimes much more difficult than many expect.
Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist, discusses coping with hair loss and anxiety
Research published in the JAMA Network medical journal found nearly one-third of breast cancer patients experience temporary or lasting symptoms of depression, both during and after treatment.
If you’re having feelings of depression or you’re overwhelmed after your cancer diagnosis, get connected with a mental health professional as soon as possible. There’s support available to you.
Many comprehensive cancer centers have supportive care centers and teams of specialists dedicated to helping people going through these experiences. But some don’t, and even when they do, patients aren’t accessing those resources.
At SurvivorNet, we’ve created a dedicated channel to support those struggling. We have consulted with top doctors in the field to offer their resources to those grappling with their mental health and seeking treatment or solutions.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
