Recent studies have highlighted some of these erroneous notions.

For instance, 67% of people think that the risk of dying from cancer in the US is increasing. In fact, if you read the news in the past few days, the Annual Report to the Nation on Cancer shows that death rates are declining.

Other misconceptions out there: A recent study showed that 40% of people questioned in a survey thought that living in a polluted city was more of a risk for cancer than smoking cigarettes! Smoking is a huge risk factor for cancer, much more than pollution, and contributes to breast cancer risk as well.

And in another study of 6300 adults, more than 50% agreed with the statement: “It seems that everything causes cancer.”

This is absolutely not true, of course, but it’s distressing that so many people are ill informed about what causes cancer and what doesn’t.

Check out more about cancer news and research at my blog at http://www.cancerreport.blogspot.com

As I understand it, there are catches (aren’t there always). I believe the idea is that if you had screening and started necessary treatment through insurance then you DON’T have insurance, I believe you’ll have difficulty getting coverage from government-sponsored programs.

If you start with a government-sponsored program I believe you are covered all the way through. I could certainly misunderstand PLENTY of this, but when I with the LAF we were discussing the breast cancer legislation because grassroots advocates want parity in terms of coverage for colo-rectal cancer screening and treatment and prostate screening and treatment (cancers that have established and successful diagnostic tools and preventive and treatment regimens that offer at least some success).

As far as the genetic links, that is, indeed, a common misconception. Yes, many cancers have STRONG genetic links (i.e. prostate cancer, colo-rectal cancer). But the bulk of women who get breast cancer may have no genetic connection whatsoever.

HOWEVER, I worked for a genetic research group. Our director (who, in horrible irony, now has breast cancer herself completely unrelated to genetic connections) had been on the team that discovered the first two breast cancer genes (brca1 and brca2). Though it’s true that a statistically small percentage of women have these genes, if they DO, they should know that these genes are associated with an early-age, virulent form of breast cancer. In fact, a number of women who find they have the gene and have seen family members suffer and/or die from the disease have had prophylactic mastectomies hoping to lessen their chances suffering from the breast cancer.

So, YES, know your family history (for many reasons. But get SCREENED. And do your self-exams (she says as a big hypocrite because she has benign fibrocystic breast disease and she gets all nervous trying to distinguish one kind of lump from another). Mammograms are NOT perfect and NOT to be relied on alone. But – FOR GOD’S SAKE – there is a process that COULD give you an early, treatable breast cancer diagnosis; WHY WOULD YOU NOT DO IT BECAUSE IT ISN’T 100% FOOL-PROOF? Furthermore, if we fund the research that’s improving mammograms and new diagnostic tools, who knows what the future could hold.

AND, if are a MAN and you feel something suspicious in your breast tissue (YOU DO HAVE SOME), please don’t ignore it. My friends Father did. If he hadn’t…

And I hate to harp on “contact your legislators,” but the wretched truth is that so many of our health decisions (at least in the United States) are made in congress. See what bills already exist (remember that Thomas (from the Library of Congress) is a great tool) and if you think they’re important, stress to your legislators as their constituents what SHOULD BE SUPPORTED. There are some great bills that YOU can help bring to your legislators attention (i.e. there’s the “Minority Health Improvement and Health Disparity Elimination Act” and the “Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2007″ – I could name many others). Moreover, you have the right to suggest bills that you think should be introduced.

As for the whole pink ribbon and “shop pink” and, of course, the Going Pink debates, here’s my take (again): Awareness is IMPERATIVE. Ribbons and shirts and wristbands and websites are not the end, they are a MEANS TO AN END. And the goal is AWARENESS. Awareness, naturally, is an aspect and a part of education. It is ESSENTIAL, absolutely ESSENTIAL. I reiterate, as far as the shopping goes, if/when you buy, you can buy from sources that give ALL or the BULK of the proceeds from sales to research, treatment and support.

Tell people WHY you are wearing or carrying or buying something. I wrote this when I started wearing the LIVESTRONG® wristband to explain that it was NOT just jewelry and and this for “Blog Against Cancer” event.

I think “I want people to be healthier,” says it best. Thanks.