A recent survey of nearly 1,000 breast cancer patients reveals that exposure to misinformation is common—but it does not appear to impact adherence to treatment.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, led by Dr. David Gibbes Miller and Dr. Kaitlyn Lapen, conducted an online survey of 997 breast cancer patients, investigating the prevalence and impact of cancer-related misinformation. The findings, published in Oncology, show that while 76% of patients reported encountering misinformation, and 38% experienced clinically significant fear, these factors did not translate into nonadherence to treatment.
Fear was measured using the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Short Form, with scores of 22 or higher considered clinically significant. Approximately 38% of participants met this threshold.
Patients were more likely to encounter myths about breast cancer risk factors (76%) than about ways to reduce recurrence (54%). The most commonly reported false claims included sugar consumption (61%), underarm deodorant use (22%), cellphone use (8%), vaccines (8%), and bra type (8%).
Some longstanding rumors, such as the idea that wearing bras or using aluminum-containing antiperspirants increases breast cancer risk, persist despite limited evidence. For example, a 1991 study suggested premenopausal women who don’t wear bras had a lower risk, but experts attribute this to confounding factors like obesity, a known risk factor for breast cancer.
Regarding recurrence prevention, more than half of participants reported encountering misinformation. The most common claims included organic food consumption (41%), oral vitamins and supplements (29%), alkaline diets (12%), and vitamin infusions (7%).
The study also explored sociodemographic differences, noting that Hispanic patients reported slightly higher exposure to misinformation than White patients. However, due to the small sample size of Hispanic participants (4%), these findings may not be generalizable.
Misinformation can spread through multiple channels, including social media, advertising, and even healthcare professionals. Previous research underscores the impact of such myths: a 2018 survey by the American Society of Clinical Oncology found that 39% of Americans believe cancer can be cured solely through diet, vitamins, or oxygen therapy, while 16% believe cellphones cause cancer.
Despite high exposure, the study found no correlation between encountering misinformation and treatment adherence or cancer recurrence fears. The researchers suggest that patients may not internalize all misinformation and that factors like preexisting health beliefs, trust in healthcare providers, psychosocial support, and health literacy likely play a stronger role in patient behavior.
Miller and Lapen emphasize the importance of survivorship education and communication. To combat misinformation, they advocate for “psychological immunity” strategies, including misinformation intervention protocols, clinician conversation guides, and survivor-informed digital literacy resources.
