One myth about breast cancer that emerged in this study was the belief that if one gets breast cancer, one dies. Seven of the women in this study reported that their families were fearful of them or their daughters getting breast cancer and thought they would die. Their reactions once they were told the news were that they had been served with a death warrant and their loved one was going to die, no matter what. Fearing the worst outcome of breast cancer, one daughter explained that it was difficult for her family members to contain their fears that she was going to die once they found out that she had breast cancer. She noticed that her family stayed close to her, watched over her because they thought she was not going to be here much longer. They even sat with her and waited for death to come. She was somewhat annoyed that her mother went outside of
the family and told others about her condition, hoping to get
sympathy.