There are some other myths about what types of breast lumps are less worrisome, such as: “If the lump is painful, it isn’t breast cancer,” and “If you can feel a lump that is smooth, and/or that moves around freely under the skin, it’s not breast cancer.” Any lump or unusual mass that can be felt through the skin needs to be checked out by a healthcare professional. Although most lumps are benign (not cancer), there is always the possibility of breast cancer.

As Community member Simone RC says, “[There is a myth] that you only need to worry if your lump is hard, not movable, and not smooth. Every single doctor who felt my always-lumpy breasts said they never would have thought what I felt was suspicious. I noticed the new lump on one of my best old lumps. Smooth, movable, soft, like a grape cut in half lengthwise. Thank goodness my gynecologist took me seriously despite having my annual 3D mammogram completely clear a few months before.”

MYTH: Early-stage breast cancer rarely recurs.
FACT: Even with early-stage breast cancer, there is always some risk the cancer will return.

Many people believe that early-stage breast cancer — cancer that hasn’t moved beyond the breast and underarm lymph nodes — has almost no chance of recurring, or coming back. Although most people with early-stage breast cancer won’t have a recurrence, the risk never goes away completely.

Another myth: If the breast cancer doesn’t come back within 5 years, it will never come back. While it’s true that the risk of recurrence is greatest in the first 2 to 5 years, later recurrences can happen. Because of these myths, some women with early-stage breast cancer report feeling completely blindsided when they have a recurrence. Even at 20 years after diagnosis, people with stage I, low-risk hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer have a 15–20% chance of recurrence.⁵

Recurrent breast cancer can be local or regional, meaning it comes back in the breast or chest area where the original cancer was found, or distant, meaning it comes back in another part of the body, such as the bone, liver, or lungs. Distant recurrence is also called metastatic or stage IV breast cancer.

If you’re diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, your treatment team can help you understand your risk of recurrence. Many different factors can influence risk, such as:

• the size of the original tumor
• the number of lymph nodes involved
• the grade of the cells (how abnormal they were in appearance)
• whether or not the cancer tested positive for hormone receptors and/or extra copies of the HER2 gene
• the specifics of your treatment plan

If you had a genomic test such as Oncotype DX, which analyzes a group of genes to predict the risk of recurrence, that information also can be helpful.

MYTH: All breast cancer is treated pretty much the same way.
FACT: Treatment plans vary widely depending on the characteristics of the cancer and patient preferences.

“I had no idea until I was diagnosed how many types of breast cancer there are, nor did I know anything about the different types of treatment,” notes Community member Oceanbum.

Hers is a common experience: If you’ve never had breast cancer or haven’t been close to someone who does, there’s no real reason to learn the ins and outs of treatment. Many people have some vague idea that breast cancer requires some combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and maybe chemotherapy, but they don’t know much beyond that. They might not realize that they can speak to five different people with breast cancer and discover that they have five different treatment plans.

This is because each person’s treatment plan really is tailored to his or her needs. So many different factors can come into play when choosing treatments, such as:

• the size, stage, and grade of the cancer, as well as the location (ducts vs. lobules)
• whether the cancer is known or believed to be linked to an inherited genetic mutation, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2
• whether the cancer tests positive for estrogen or progesterone receptors (meaning its growth is fueled by hormones)
• whether the cancer tests positive for extra copies of the HER2 gene
• results of tests that can predict the likelihood of recurrence, such as Oncotype DX or MammaPrint
• patient preferences about avoiding specific side effects or the timing of treatment sessions

To learn more about why treatment plans vary so widely, check out our pages about Planning Your Treatment.

MYTH: Breast cancer only happens to middle-aged and older women.
FACT: Younger women can and do get breast cancer, as do men.

It is true that being female and growing older are the main risk factors for developing breast cancer. In 2017, about 4% of invasive breast cancers were diagnosed in women under age 40, while about 23% were diagnosed in women in their 50s and 27% in women ages 60 to 69.⁶ While 4% might sound small, it isn’t zero: This percentage means that one in every 25 invasive breast cancer cases occurred in women under 40.

Women of all ages need to pay attention to their breasts, perform self-exams, and report any unusual changes to their doctors — and insist that breast cancer be ruled out if there’s a concerning symptom. Even some doctors buy into the myth that women in their 20s and 30s don’t get breast cancer. Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, especially cancers diagnosed in relatives before age 40, may wish to start screenings sooner.

Breast cancer is even rarer in men, but it does happen. People often think that men can’t get breast cancer because they don’t have breasts — but they do have breast tissue. Male breast cancer accounts for less than 1% of all breast cancers diagnosed in the U.S. In 2019, about 2,670 men are expected to be diagnosed with the disease.⁷ Even though male breast cancer is rare, it tends to be diagnosed at a more advanced stage because breast changes and lumps typically don’t lead men and their doctors to think “breast cancer.” Changes in male breasts need to be checked out, too.

MYTH: When treatment is over, you’re finished with breast cancer.
FACT: Breast cancer can have a long-term impact on people’s lives and well-being.

People with breast cancer often report that their family and friends expect them to be ready to move on after treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy end. In reality, targeted therapies such as Herceptin (chemical name: trastuzumab) may be prescribed for a year or more. Hormonal therapies, such as tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors, are often prescribed for up to 10 years. If a woman has decided to have her breasts reconstructed, this may require a series of surgeries over several months. And for those with metastatic or stage IV breast cancer, treatment will last for the rest of their lives.

Even after main treatments are done, people can experience long-term side effects. Some of these side effects can be physical: pain and tightness, fatigue, skin changes, neuropathy (tingling and numbness in the hands and feet), menopausal symptoms, and others, depending on the treatment regimen. Other side effects can be mental and emotional: anxiety, fear of recurrence, and relationship changes, among others. For many people, the effects of the breast cancer experience last for years — or for life, in the case of metastatic breast cancer — but their loved ones just don’t get it.