--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People should be afraid of the cancer…" description: "\"People should be afraid of the cancer, not the mammogram.\" — Nancy Reagan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/nancy-reagan-7070_cancer_people-should-be-afraid-of-the-cancer-no_2139855.jpg" --- # People should be afraid of the cancer, not the mammogram. ![“People should be afraid of the cancer, not the mammogram.” quote by Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/nancy-reagan-7070_cancer_people-should-be-afraid-of-the-cancer-no_2139855.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/nancy-reagan-7070_cancer_people-should-be-afraid-of-the-cancer-no_2139855.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/nancy-reagan-7070_cancer_people-should-be-afraid-of-the-cancer-no_2139855.jpg) > “People should be afraid of the cancer, not the mammogram.” [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear should target cancer itself, not the diagnostic tool that detects it. **In simple terms:** Fear cancer, not the test. Key Takeaway Promote early detection without fear. Themes health cancer screening Mood concerned hopeful Type advocacy informative When to use this quote - medical appointments - health education - patient counseling Key Concepts public health psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can we reduce fear around mammograms? - What messages encourage proactive health checks? A Different Perspective Screening can cause anxiety despite benefits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Mammograms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mammograms/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People with cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-with-cancer/) ## Related quotes > [My breasts are so low now I can have a mammogram and a pedicure at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/my-breasts-are-so-low-now-i-can-have-a-mammogram-and-a-pedicure-at/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [On a personal note: I have contracted an outstanding case of breast cancer, from which I intend to recover. I don't need get-well cards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/on-a-personal-note-i-have-contracted-an-outstanding-case-of-breast/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [For my sister's 50th birthday, I sent her a singing mammogram.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/for-my-sister-s-50th-birthday-i-sent-her-a-singing-mammogram/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I cannot believe they haven't yet come up with a better screening process than the mammogram. If a man had to put his special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-cannot-believe-they-haven-t-yet-come-up-with-a-better-screening/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [Breast cancer deaths in America have been declining for more than a decade. Much of that success is due to early detection and better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-craig/breast-cancer-deaths-in-america-have-been-declining-for-more-than-a/) [Larry Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-craig/) > [The day I found out, the day I got my mammogram and the doctor told me I had breast cancer, it was mid-November.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-gotti/the-day-i-found-out-the-day-i-got-my-mammogram-and-the-doctor-told-me/) [Victoria Gotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-gotti/) > [My breast cancer was caught very early thanks to my doctor a wonderful woman named Elsie Giogi, who just recently passed away after practicing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jackson/my-breast-cancer-was-caught-very-early-thanks-to-my-doctor-a/) [Kate Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jackson/) > [All women should understand that a mammogram is nothing to be afraid of. It's not an enemy but a friend. Early detection is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jackson/all-women-should-understand-that-a-mammogram-is-nothing-to-be-afraid/) [Kate Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jackson/) > [I had to go for a mammogram - my first mammogram ever - and It was really scary and I didn't know what to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/i-had-to-go-for-a-mammogram-my-first-mammogram-ever-and-it-was-really/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I go for my completely routine mammogram and then I get a call from my gynecologist. And she says, 'Well, I have some -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-nixon/i-go-for-my-completely-routine-mammogram-and-then-i-get-a-call-from/) [Cynthia Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-nixon/) > [I wasn't prepared to get a mammogram until I was 40 years old, like I'd been told. I never in my wildest dreams expected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuliana-rancic/i-wasn-t-prepared-to-get-a-mammogram-until-i-was-40-years-old-like-i/) [Giuliana Rancic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuliana-rancic/) > [“I'm afraid I don't read as much as I ought to," said Maggie. "We're all afraid of something," Trout replied. "I'm afraid of cancer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-m-afraid-i-don-t-read-as-much-as-i-ought-to-said-maggie-we-re-all/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“The ones that would tell him that I was afraid that I might have cancer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mclean/the-ones-that-would-tell-him-that-i-was-afraid-that-i-might-have/) [Jay McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mclean/) > [An abnormality on a mammogram can turn a woman's life upside down, even if no cancer is ultimately found. At the very least, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cuomo/an-abnormality-on-a-mammogram-can-turn-a-woman-s-life-upside-down/) [Margaret Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cuomo/) > [I'm not about my breasts; I'm just about good health, OK. I'm not afraid of doing what I need to do to stay here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/i-m-not-about-my-breasts-i-m-just-about-good-health-ok-i-m-not-afraid/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) ## More by Nancy Reagan > [I must say acting was good training for the political life which lay ahead for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/i-must-say-acting-was-good-training-for-the-political-life-which-lay/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [Throughout Ronnie's presidency, there was an ongoing public discussion as to how much influence the first lady should have on the president. It's hardly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/throughout-ronnie-s-presidency-there-was-an-ongoing-public-discussion/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [A lot of business can be accomplished in the state dinners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/a-lot-of-business-can-be-accomplished-in-the-state-dinners/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [A woman is like a tea bag. She only knows her strength when put in hot water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/a-woman-is-like-a-tea-bag-she-only-knows-her-strength-when-put-in-hot/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [Dont ever lose hope. Even when life seems bleak and hopeless, know that you are not alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/don-t-ever-lose-hope-even-when-life-seems-bleak-and-hopeless-know/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [People don't understand that all presidents, the minute they become president, get a knock at the door. And there's a man there saying, 'Let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/people-don-t-understand-that-all-presidents-the-minute-they-become/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [A friend of mine said to me a year ago, "You're so lucky, Nancy, because Ronnie left you the library," She said, "You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/a-friend-of-mine-said-to-me-a-year-ago-you-re-so-lucky-nancy-because/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [I favor capital punishment. It saves lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/i-favor-capital-punishment-it-saves-lives/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [I do not believe in abortion at will. I do not believe that if a woman just wants to have an abortion she should...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/i-do-not-believe-in-abortion-at-will-i-do-not-believe-that-if-a-woman/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [I'm doing what I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/i-m-doing-what-i-want-to-do/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [“A woman is like a teabag - only in hot water do you realize how strong she is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/a-woman-is-like-a-teabag-only-in-hot-water-do-you-realize-how-strong/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [What can you say about a man, who on Mother's Day sends flowers to his mother-in-law, with a note thanking her for making him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/what-can-you-say-about-a-man-who-on-mother-s-day-sends-flowers-to-his/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [I've found a letter that was written to me from a girl who was getting married. And she wanted to know the secret of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/i-ve-found-a-letter-that-was-written-to-me-from-a-girl-who-was/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [What it boils down to is that each person has his own ways of coping with trauma and grief, with the pain of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/what-it-boils-down-to-is-that-each-person-has-his-own-ways-of-coping/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [Countless people, suffering from many different diseases, stand to benefit from the answers stem cell research can provide. We owe it to ourselves and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/countless-people-suffering-from-many-different-diseases-stand-to/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) [Explore all 95 Nancy Reagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. 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I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People should be afraid of the cancer, not the mammogram.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nancy Reagan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/people-should-be-afraid-of-the-cancer-not-the-mammogram/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/people-should-be-afraid-of-the-cancer-not-the-mammogram/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/nancy-reagan-7070_cancer_people-should-be-afraid-of-the-cancer-no_2139855.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/nancy-reagan-7070_cancer_people-should-be-afraid-of-the-cancer-no_2139855.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e9/nancy-reagan-7070_cancer_people-should-be-afraid-of-the-cancer-no_2139855.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People should be afraid of the cancer, not the mammogram.” — Nancy Reagan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nancy Reagan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People should be afraid of the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/people-should-be-afraid-of-the-cancer-not-the-mammogram/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/people-should-be-afraid-of-the-cancer-not-the-mammogram/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```