Myth: Removing the entire breast gives you a better chance of surviving cancer than having a lumpectomy with radiation therapy

Reality: Survival rates are about the same for women who have mastectomies and for women who choose the breast-conserving option of removing only part of the breast and following the surgery with radiation treatments. However, there are some cases - such as with extensive DCIS disease, the presence of BRCA gene mutations, or particularly large tumors - when lumpectomy and radiation may not be an appropriate treatment option.

More from Health.com: How to help a loved one cope with breast cancer

Credit: istockphoto