Doctors Share 5 Tips for Finding Breast Cancer Information You Can Trust

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s recent “Myth vs. Medicine” webinar gave expert tips for spotting misinformation

In the age of AI, social media, and “Dr. Google,” healthcare providers are not always patients’ go-to resource. In fact, a recent Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) poll showed only 55% of adults ages 18-34 cite their doctor as their most trusted source for health information, compared to 77% of adults 55 and older. But medical information—and misinformation—abound, and often at the expense of the patient.

So, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) hosted “Myth vs. Medicine: Navigating Breast Cancer Information Today,” a webinar to help separate breast cancer fact from fiction online. BCRF investigators breast surgeon Dr. Veronica Jones and medical oncologist Dr. Evanthia Roussos Torres joined BCRF’s Managing Director, Communications and Content, Sadia Zapp, to set the record straight.

Their wide-reaching conversation covered breast cancer misconceptions, truths, and how to find credible information. Here are key takeaways from their discussion.

It’s OK (and often encouraged) to do your own research.
“I actually welcome that,” Dr. Jones said, “because we have to have that discussion to know what’s informing your decision-making.” Your doctor is there to help you make sense of what you read online and personalize it to your individual circumstances.

Be strategic when searching.
Just as important as asking the right questions in your search is knowing where to look, Dr. Roussos Torres said. For example, you can tell an AI chatbot to pull results from respected sources like PubMed, a database of peer-reviewed research. “If you instruct the internet and AI to use those sources, then the research you’re coming in with is quite valid,” she said. Last year, BCRF also launched two online resources—About Breast Cancer and a Glossary—to provide patients, caregivers, and the public with expert-verified breast cancer information.

Know that what you find may be generalized.
Our understanding of breast cancer has drastically advanced over the past decade. Today, we can uncover more details about a person’s cancer than ever before, and that can lead to treatments that are more personalized to each patient. “Everything is becoming much more specific, much more tailored,” Dr. Jones said. So, it’s important to keep in mind that advice you read online may not apply to your own situation.

Be wary of oversimplifications.
Breast cancer is complex, and unfortunately, research can’t always be summed up in a simple headline. Dr. Roussos Torres said she will sometimes see stories that oversimplify the science, whether it’s attributing cancer to one single cause or saying that a certain food or exercise prevents the disease. “It’s not that these studies or these headlines are fake,” she said. “It’s just that they dramatically overstate what the science has actually shown.”

Trust the evidence.
Although recent reports about experimental medications including fenbendazole and ivermectin have made headlines touting anti-cancer effects, Dr. Roussos Torres stresses that evidence-based protocols like chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy are the standard of care for a reason. “We’re recommending things because they were studied in large, well designed, and controlled clinical trials,” she said. “We don’t have that evidence for ivermectin and for fenbendazole.”

Related Stories

• 4 Important Things to Know About Dense Breasts
• Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Explained
• Learn More About Breast Cancer Prevention