Understanding Cancer - 8 Scary Myths Dispelled
Cancer is one of the scariest words in
existence. And the fear of this disease is very realistic. After all, it
is the leading cause of death worldwide. Cancer takes the lives of 10
million people every year according to data by the World Health
Organization (WHO) from 2020. The word “cancer” is an umbrella term for a
huge variety of genetic conditions that can develop in any part of the
body, so it’s only natural that we develop some preconceived notions
about this scary disease.
Believing in cancer myths can be more
dangerous than you think, as it leads to needless worry and redirects
your attention from preventative practices that are important. In this
article, we dispel 8 big misconceptions about cancer.
Myth 1. Cancer is almost always fatal
In the 21st century, a cancer diagnosis is
not a death sentence. In the past few decades, cancer detection and
treatment have improved tremendously. According to a 2020 cancer report
in the US, cancer rates have been consistently dropping by an average of
1.5% since the early 2000s.
The National Cancer Institute states the following: “Now, 5-year
survival rates for some cancers, such as breast, prostate, and thyroid
cancers, are 90% or better. The 5-year survival rate for all cancers
combined is currently about 67%.”
It has to be pointed out, however, that the survival rates vary
considerably depending on the type of cancer. In the UK, for example,
98% of testicular cancer patients recover, but that rate is just 1% for
pancreatic cancer sufferers - states Cancer Research UK.
Myth 2. Eating sugar makes cancer grow faster
All cells in the human body, even cancer
cells, use glucose (blood sugar) to grow, survive, and multiply. Glucose
is the only fuel cells can essentially absorb. Since cancer cells tend
to grow faster, doctors know that they devour greater amounts of
glucose, and they use this knowledge in some cancer tests. But this
doesn’t mean that eating sugar makes cancer cells grow at a greater
speed, or that depriving yourself of sweets will slow down cancer -
cancer cells will absorb more glucose no matter what your diet is.
Of course, there are plenty of good reasons
to avoid a high-sugar diet, including a higher risk of diabetes,
obesity, and a higher RISK of developing esophageal cancer. However, if
you or someone you know has already been diagnosed with cancer, cutting
out sweet foods is unlikely to make a difference.
Myth 3. There is no cure for cancer
Cancer will not necessarily come back. In
fact, certain types of cancer can be effectively cured even at advanced
stages. “In addition to curing advanced testicular cancer and lymphomas
(Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin lymphomas), we usually expect to cure
most early forms of breast, colon, prostate, and skin cancer, including
melanoma,” says Dr. Michael McNamara, a registered oncologist to the
Cleveland Clinic.
Treatments are more effective now than ever before, and most cancer
types are treatable. Unfortunately, not all types of cancer can be cured
completely - it all depends on the type of cancer and the stage of the
disease. That said, even the scariest cancers like stage 4 melanoma,
breast cancer, and stage 4 colon cancer with metastases in the liver
have more than 40% chance to be cured completely with a combination of
chemotherapy and surgery - so says Prof. Anton Bilchik, a surgical
oncologist and chief of medicine at Saint John’s Cancer Institute in
Santa Monica, California to Medical News Today.
Myth 4. Most cancers are hereditary
Most of us are aware that cancer develops
as a result of malignant mutations in the DNA. However, only a small
percentage of cancers occur due to inherited genetic mutations. These
cancers are known as “familial” or “hereditary,” and they account for
roughly 5-10% of all cancers.
Most cancers are “non-hereditary,” meaning that they are caused by
genetic mutations that occur as a result of aging, harmful habits like
smoking and alcohol, or factors like X-ray radiation or exposure to
harmful chemicals. Likewise, even people who have a strong family
history of cancer can prevent cancer by leading a healthy lifestyle and
undergoing regular screenings.
Myth 5. Biopsies and cancer surgery make cancer spread
This myth is actually partially true. It is
correct to assume that improperly conducted surgery could potentially
lead to the spread of cancer, but there are so many protocols and
precautions to cancer surgery that the chances of that happening are
extremely low. The advances in imaging and treatment reduce this risk
even further.
As stated by the National Cancer Institute, “The chance that surgery
will cause cancer to spread to other parts of the body is extremely low.
Following standard procedures, surgeons use special methods and take
many steps to prevent cancer cells from spreading during biopsies or
surgery to remove tumors.” Biopsies, too, are not a cause for concern. A
study from 2015 of over 2,000 participants dispels the misconception
that tumor biopsies lead to cancer spreading.
All in all, the benefits of biopsies and surgery far outweigh their
risks.
Myth 6. Cancer always requires urgent treatment
Even we were surprised to learn this, but
the best course to choose in some scenarios is an approach doctors call
“watchful waiting.” Cancers that grow very slowly, such as certain
prostate cancers, lymphomas, and leukemias, are observed before treating
or managed with medication rather than surgery or chemotherapy. In
other cases, cancer may not be the primary threat to one’s health, in
which case, doctors can also choose to treat another health issue first
before addressing cancer.
Needless to say, all this doesn't mean that you shouldn't see a doctor
as soon as you notice any pain or any other signs of cancer. Only a
professional can decide which cancers must be treated, as well as when
and how the treatment should be administered.
Myth 7. Cancer can be contagious
You cannot catch cancer from a person who
has it - this is a complete myth. So don’t be afraid to visit or touch a
family member or friend if they get diagnosed. That being said, there
are a few, albeit indirect, ways one can get cancer from another person.
Some viruses can increase one’s risk of cancer. Women who have
contracted the human papillomavirus (HPV) is linked to cervical cancer,
hepatitis B or C raises the likelihood of liver cancer, and the
Epstein-Barr virus raises one’s risk of certain lymphomas, nose-, and
throat cancer.
In addition, one can technically get cancer as a result of organ or
tissue transplantation if the donor had cancer in the past. However,
this kind of transplant-related cancer is very rare because doctors
never use organs or tissues from donors with a known medical history of
cancers.
Myth 8. The many mythical causes of cancer
There’s a wide variety of misconceptions
surrounding everyday activities and objects that supposedly trigger
cancer. Believing these myths can cause a lot of unnecessary stress and
anxiety, which, unlike phones and deodorants, do impact your health in a
negative way. Here’s a list of items wrongfully attributed to cancer:
Smartphones, power lines, and microwaves
X-rays can increase one’s risk of cancer, but the radio waves your phone
and other home devices emit are different and don’t come with the same
risks. These waves are called non-ionizing radiation, and they produce
extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic waves that cannot damage genes.
As the American Cancer Society concludes, “Several large studies have
looked at the possible effects of ELF magnetic fields on cancer in rats
and mice. Most of these studies have found no increase in the risk of
any type of cancer. In fact, the risk of some types of cancer was
actually lower in the animals exposed to the ELF radiation.”
Artificial sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners like sucralose, aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame
potassium, and neotame have been tested several times and deemed safe
and not linked to cancer. For example, a massive study with over half a
million participants has detected no link between aspartame and brain
cancer, lymphoma, and leukemia. In addition, all of these sweeteners are
also approved by the FDA, so you needn’t worry about using them
occasionally.
Hair dye
Getting a root touch-up every month or so will not increase your risk of
cancer. While there is some evidence suggesting that daily exposure to
chemicals like hair dyes can raise the risk of bladder cancer, we can
all agree that most of us don’t dye our hair on a daily basis. This
research is relevant mostly to hairdressers and barbers who work with
hair dye every day, and regular consumers shouldn’t be concerned about
using these products.
Deodorants and antiperspirants
Some people believe that antiperspirants and deodorants increase the
risk of breast cancer. This myth comes from a study in which aluminum
was found in the breast tissue of women who used antiperspirants that
contain aluminum, or from test-tube studies in mice and hamsters.
However, the presence of aluminum in the breast tissue doesn’t increase
the risk of breast cancer - indicates a large review study from 2008 and
a more recent analysis from 2021.
We hope that you found this article informative and useful. We wish you
strong health!
Labels: artificial sweeteners, cancer myths, causes of cancer, contagious, cure for cancer, deos, dispelled, hair dye, hepatitis B & C- liver cancer, HPV, most cancers non-hereditary, survival rates better
posted by G S Iyer at 9:17 AM
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