Cancer, a tragic illness, is a complicated health condition that affects millions of men, women, and children everywhere. However, such complications lead to confusion, and in the course of time, the public has developed a number of beliefs and myths about exploring and curing cancer. And that isn’t doing any good. We shall deconstruct some of the most prevalent myths about cancer and separate facts from fiction based on scientific research.
The “Cancer is Always a Death Sentence” Myth
Cancer is one of the most dangerous myths that has been created by man and embraced by people; it is a myth that people die from cancer. Specifically, this myth often leads people to lose all hope and, in many cases, even abandon any treatment. The truth, however, is far more inspiring than this may make it seem.
Medical science has brought cures to some forms of cancer and improved life expectancy over the last several decades. For example, the five-year survival of all different types of cancer combined has risen from nearly 50% in the 1970s to 70 % today. It is known that several forms of cancer are treatable such as some skin cancer or even thyroid cancer; they can be lived with for over 90% survival chances as long as they are discovered before more serious advancement occurs.
Fact:
Indeed, cancer is a heterogeneous group of diseases. Every cancer acts and responds to treatment differently. Some are aggressive and difficult to treat, while others grow relatively slowly and may be controlled very effectively.
Detection coupled with a prompt treatment usually goes hand-in-hand with successful outcomes. Make regular check-ups and screenings a habit. Check your body for anomalies that may need medical attention. And do remember, having a cancer diagnosis is hardly the end but just the beginning of a challenging yet winnable fight.
The “Cancer is Contagious” Myth
Another almost strongly related misconception is that cancer is contagious—this myth makes people fear being infected or catching it from someone who has the disease. Therefore, this misconception often leads to unnecessary fear and exclusion of cancer patients, which is likely the last thing they need when coping with this dreadful disease.
Fact:
Cancer itself is not something you can catch. You never catch cancer, for instance, by shaking hands, even kissing, due to holding hands. It is merely determined through the changes that result in cell abnormal growth and subsequent uncontrolled division. Environmental exposures, inheritance, or random processes can cause these genetic changes.
Some of these viruses that cause cancer can be transmitted or spread. For instance, HPV is a virus that triggers cervical cancer. Furthermore, sexual contact serves as another channel for the virus’s transmission. Hepatitis B and C viruses will enhance the chances of developing liver cancer, a fact supported by the fact that it is transmitted through blood or other body fluids. Therefore, while the virus can spread from one person to another, the actual cancer is not transferable.
This understanding can also reduce stigma and ensure that even a cancer-diagnosed patient receives adequate support and compassionate love from family and community.
“Sugar Feeds Cancer” Myth
You may have heard many times that sugar consumption either accelerates the growth of cancer or exacerbates its symptoms. After receiving a cancer diagnosis, this myth prompts numerous individuals to remove sugar from their diets. However, there is much that is unknown or misunderstood about this sugar/cancer link, which this particular myth tells us little about.
This type of sugar, glucose, is used by all cells in the body, including normal cells and cancer cells. Cancer cells, however, don’t require sugar more than normal cells, and they don’t grow faster because of the consumption of sugar.
The mistruth can come from a medical procedure like a PET scan, which uses radioactive glucose to capture cancer in the body. Tumour cells reproduce rapidly; therefore, they take in more of this glucose than regular cells. This does not mean sugar promotes cancer.
Fact:
That being said, there is an indirect association of sugar with cancer risk. Sweets and other foods that contain high amounts of sugar cause overweight or obesity, hence many cancers. Diets high in added sugars are also often void of many of the nutrients that may be beneficial in the prevention of cancer.
Bottom line? Carcinogenic factors are also simple: simply, you have to eat more fruits, vegetables, cereals, and lean meat and that is it. In case you are concerned about what you are eating, there is an oncology dietitian nutrition specialist for that.
The “Cancer Is Always Inherited” Myth
Some myths have been circulating that cancer is always hereditary from parents to children—if your parent had cancer, you are destined to get it, too. The discovery of cancer in a family can cause unnecessary anxiety.
True, some of these cancers have a genetic component. But most cancers are not inherited. It is estimated that the genetic mutations that only result in 5–10% of all cancers occur due to known inherited factors. Most cancers are caused by gene changes during a person’s lifetime, often due to environmental exposures or pure chance.
Even among families in which inherited cancer syndromes exist, not everybody who inherits the mutation of the gene develops cancer. For example, a woman who receives the BRCA1 or BRCA2 inheritance will be inclined to get cancers of the breast and ovaries, though not every woman with these mutations will end up with these cancers.
For instance, if your family has many cancers, you need to consult genetic counseling with your physician. A genetic counselor can provide useful screening or precautionary measures.
Fact:
Always remember that just because you or some of your family members have experienced or developed cancer, it doesn’t guarantee that you will experience it, too. Likewise, you can also contract cancer even though it might not be genetic in you or any of your close relatives. This is why we and everyone should eat healthy, exercise, get vaccinated, do health check-ups, and consult the doctor when something is wrong.
This myth involves offering the client a set of cans that may be compatible with their diseases so that the client feels that the cancer treatment succeeded, although it did not.
The “Alternative Therapies for Cancer Cure Cancer” Myth
In this age of the Internet, you’re likely to hear claims about alternative or “natural” treatments for cancer: unproven diets, enemas, glands, vitamin therapy, or other luck cures that advertise cures for cancer with minimal safety side as compared to standard conventional medical treatments. A notion like this can seem almost too enticing to disregard, especially if a patient is diagnosed with cancer.
However, it is noteworthy to mention that, to this date, there has been no medical research evidence that proves the above-cited and other non-mainline disease therapy practices can cure this disease. The majority of these therapies lack testing or proven safety and effectiveness. Some even cause damage or interfere with standard cancer therapies.
Thus, the three principal cancer therapies—surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy—still receive far and away the best trial by clinical investigation. Despite their toxicity to the body, they effectively treat most types of cancer.
They are not all worthless, though I must say that most complementary therapies are not very effective. For example, acupuncture, meditation, or art therapy reduce patients’ experience of symptoms and side effects of cancer treatment. But like any form of therapy, these should be done besides the treatments doctors prescribe.
If you are considering complementary therapy, talk with your oncologist. Your oncologist can also provide guidance on what might be beneficial or safe for you and what you should avoid to prevent harm or hinder progress.
Unless You Have Symptoms, You Do Not Need to Have a Cancer Screening
Most people believe that they only have to go for cancer checks if they are feeling symptoms. This is a deadly myth, resulting in late diagnosis and more dire outcomes.
Most cancers do not cause noticeable signs or symptoms until late into the disease when they are not as easy to treat. Therefore, we should regularly conduct screenings to identify cancer before it manifests potentially.
Mammograms, for instance, can detect breast cancer even before a tumor is palpable. Colonoscopy can be preferred to find and remove precancerous polyps before these may become colorectal cancer. A pap smear may identify cervical cell changes before they become cancerous.
Various individuals of different ages and risk factors receive varied recommendations for screening tests. Discuss with your physician which ones you should have and at what age.
Earliest detection is the best protection.
That is why the earlier the cancer is cured, the more opportunities for treatment and the consequent probability of the patient’s survival are offered. Screen yourself; you should not wait until you start having symptoms.
The “cancer research isn’t making progress” myth.
Sometimes, people may assert, “Despite all the billions spent on cancer research, we’re not going anywhere,” a somewhat subtle myth that fosters hopelessness and discourages all efforts to support cancer research.
The truth is that knowledge about cancer and its treatment has reached unparalleled heights in the last thirty years. Some of these include the following:
What we know now is that cancer is not one disease. Cancer is a collection of symptoms associated with various diseases. This has made treatments more indicated and targeted, effective, and rarely associated with side effects compared to the earlier days when treatments were blanketed and given without fail.
Fact:
In the present day, treatment for certain forms of cancer that target the body’s immune system has significantly changed the field. This calls for an approach known as precision medicine.
New screening methods and increased awareness have increased the early detection of many cancers, which accounts for much of the improvement in survival rates.
Buckman cites that previously leading diseases that hailed the lives of occupants of the mortuary, many types of cancer treatments have significantly enhanced survival rates. For instance, the overall cancer death rate in the U.S. has reduced by 31 percent between 1991 and 2018.
Of course, much work lies ahead. Even treatable cancers can continue to cause a world of suffering, as there are still cancers that do not readily lend themselves to treatment. But progress like this gives us reason to hope for the future in cancer research and treatment.
Conclusion: The Importance of Cancer Literacy
We also encounter numerous misconceptions and a lack of knowledge about cancer; however, educating ourselves can prevent unnecessary fear, avoid engaging in “risky” behaviours, and avoid delaying proper medical care. Educating ourselves about cancer, its formation, prevention, detection, and treatment methods is crucial.
The more we know about cancer, the better our choices regarding our health. We may adjust lifestyle habits that can lower the risk of having cancer:
- Not smoking
- Being within a healthy size for our height and weight
- Avoiding too much sun exposure
We can get the proper type of cancer screening. When cancer strikes either of us or in the future, our choices will be more precise, making working with healthcare providers easier.
Remember, do not hesitate to ask questions, seek information from reliable sources, or discuss your needs with your healthcare provider, refuting myths with facts. Doing this will give us a clear vision, courage, and hope to overcome, challenge, and combat cancer.
REFERENCE LINKS
- https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/myths
- https://cancercareservices.org/resources/top-10-cancer-misconceptions/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4001327/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer/art-20046762
- https://arizonaoncology.com/blog/12-common-myths-about-cancer/
- https://lakeshorecancercenter.org/myths-and-misconceptions-about-cancer/
- https://www.acko.com/life-insurance/cancer-myths/