Every October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, pink ribbons remind us to get screened. This year, they’re personal. In April, a routine mammogram caught my early-stage breast cancer. Utah ranks 44th in the country for screening, so let this be your nudge.
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After my diagnosis, Instagram told me that some of the treatments my doctors recommended would ruin my life. Turns out they’re saving me.
With my unexpected cancer discovery, I was thrown into an unfamiliar world of questions about treatment and recovery. I researched everything I could from medical journals to survivors’ stories.
Very quickly my Instagram algorithm knew I had breast cancer. There were times the content was relieving — a welcome reminder that millions of women have experienced some version of the world I was entering.
But soon came self-proclaimed cancer experts selling their own version of cancer treatment with eye-catching reels, saying “Here’s what the doctor doesn’t want you to know” or “10 foods to cure breast cancer.” Rarely was the advice free of a paid supplement or course.
Some of these influencers had medical credentials; others had just enough vocabulary to sound convincing. The message across dozens of accounts was the same: The cancer doctors were missing something, and if I ate the right foods, eliminated the right “toxins,” and followed the right person, I could outsmart the disease.
There is a window after diagnosis when you know something is wrong but don’t yet know how much your life will change. Your calendar is filled with appointments. Well-meaning texts ask, “How are you?” You learn new medical words constantly.
It’s a time when I, and millions of others, are vulnerable and desperate for control. Suddenly, your phone is offering a solution.
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Many of these promised solutions include natural approaches. I understand the appeal and share the appreciation for a healthy lifestyle. For years I’ve eaten a healthy diet and prioritized exercise and sleep. Those habits matter to me now more than ever as they aid my recovery, and lower my recurrence risk. I know this because researchers have studied their positive effects. Evidence-based medicine is what lets us distinguish between a good-sounding idea and something that actually works.
However, healthy habits do not replace legitimate medical research.
I’ve spent months reading medical studies because I want to understand what the research says and why my doctors and I are making the decisions we’re making. What I’ve learned, however, is that there’s a difference between being an informed patient and trying to become your own oncologist. My providers have spent decades studying and treating cancer, and their knowledge is literally saving my life.
The problem of medical misinformation isn’t confined to my Instagram feed. A recent study found 76% of people with a history of breast cancer had encountered misinformation about foods, deodorant, cellphones, vaccines, vitamins or supplements. For many, the stakes are high as they pursue these alternative approaches and delay conventional treatment for months or even years while their cancer continues to progress.
Eventually, I realized Instagram was feeding me a constant diet of fear and misinformation. So I adjusted. I stopped clicking on fearmongering reels, unfollowed most breast cancer influencers, and even deleted the app for a while. Now I follow a handful of women who share positive, honest, and decidedly non-sugar-coated experiences, along with credible surgeons and doctors.
With the noise turned down, I could focus on deciding between viable treatment options. I talked through plans with my doctors, weighed the risks and benefits, and asked every question I could think of. Then I prayerfully made my decision. My faith didn’t replace the research or my doctors’ expertise, but it did help me once I’d done everything I could to understand my choices.
When you’re facing something as frightening as cancer, the promise of a simple answer is incredibly appealing. Medical misinformation thrives in exactly that moment. I understand this now more than ever and felt that pull, but this experience has also deepened my appreciation for modern medicine. I’ve learned to do all I can while knowing I’m not the expert in the room. Sometimes the wisest thing I can do is put my phone down and listen.
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