Blood Cancer: Myths Vs Facts - Experts Bust 10 Common Misconceptions About Diagnosis, Risk & Treatment

  

Blood cancer, or hematologic malignancy, is often surrounded by misconceptions that delay diagnosis and treatment. From the belief that it’s always inherited or contagious, to myths around stem cell transplants and alternative cures, misinformation can cost precious time and hope. To bring clarity, Dr Chepsy C Philip, Clinical Hematology & Bone Marrow Transplant Physician at Believers Church Medical College Hospital, Thiruvalla, debunks the most common myths about blood cancer and shares the truth about how it can be detected, treated, and even cured with today’s advanced therapies. 

Myth 1: Blood cancer is always an inherited disease. 

Fact: While blood cancer results from acquired genetic changes, most cases are not inherited. Environmental exposures and random mutations are often the cause.  

Myth 2: Blood cancer affects older people 

Fact: Dr Philip says, "All age groups, including Children, young adults, and the elderly, are susceptible to blood cancer." 

Myth 3: Blood cancer spreads from person to person.
 
Fact: Blood cancer is not contagious, as it develops inside the body and poses no risk of being contagious.  

Myth 4: A Blood test is sufficient to detect blood cancer 

Fact: "Blood tests can show abnormalities, but a diagnosis often requires a bone marrow biopsy, imaging and gene testing," reveals Dr Philip.

Myth 5: You cannot have blood cancer if you look healthy. 

Fact: There are tendencies to overlook the common symptoms of blood cancers, such as persistent fatigue, unexplained weight loss, recurring fever, and night sweats. While such symptoms may not seem severe, preventive measures, such as routine blood tests, often help reveal the onset of the disease, allowing for early intervention in such cases. 

Myth 6: There is no hope once a patient is diagnosed with blood cancer. 

Fact: There are living examples worldwide where survivors have overcome or survived blood cancer. Advanced therapies, including immunotherapy, targeted therapy, CAR-T cells, and blood stem cell transplants, have improved survival rates and significantly enhanced the quality of life.  

Myth 7: Blood cancer can be cured with alternative medicine. 

Fact: Evidence-based therapies are beneficial in treating blood cancer. It is essential to note that alternative remedies may offer comfort but cannot replace medical treatments that are already proven to have better patient outcomes.  

Myth 8: Blood cancers spread quickly in all patients. 

Fact: Dr Philip says, "Not all types of blood cancer progress rapidly; for example, lymphoma may grow slowly and remain stable for years. Having said that, leukemia progresses rapidly. So it is not right to club all types of blood cancers to progress quickly in patients."

Myth 9: Blood cancer is just one disease. 

Fact: There are different types of blood cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. 

Myth 10: A blood stem cell transplant is risky and rarely successful. 

Fact: Blood stem cell transplants have enough evidence to potentially give someone with blood cancer and blood disorders a second chance at life. This treatment method has a proven track record, with success rates continually improving patient outcomes.  

 

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Some Basic facts about Cancer

Cancer is as old as mankind. It was found in the mummy of Egypt from 5000 years back. Unfortunately, even now, people are unaware about its nature, its cause, its prevention and most importantly there are several mis-concepts which make the problem even more complicated.

What is Cancer?
Body has the inherent capacity of repairing a dead or damaged tissue by multiplication of cells and there is a control system for this. When there is lack of control, the cells multiply excessively and form a lump. This is called tumour. This can be benign- where the lump is slow growing, does not cause damage to the neighbouring structure and do not spread to other organs and are usually not fatal. The other type of tumour is obviously malignant (cancer), where the lump grows very rapidly, involves the neighbouring and distant organs and can be fatal if not treated early.

What are the common types of Cancer?
In male, where tobacco addiction is a common problem, the common cancers are that of oral cavity, lung and prostate. In females, in rural population the common cancer is that of uterine cervix, whereas that of urban women is breast cancer.

What are the causes of Cancer?

Unfortunately, the causes in 2/3 of all cancers are still not clear, and several researches are going on worldwide to determine this. In 1/3, the causes are proved beyond doubt- of which the most important is tobacco in any form- smoking (Bidi, cigarette, hukka etc.) and smokeless (paan, paan masala, ghutka, khaini, jarda etc.). The other less common causative agents are diet (adulterated food, high fat and less of fruits, vegetables and vitamins, more intake of junk, fast, stored and charred food), sunlight (causes skin cancer especially in the white race), western lifestyle (lack of or delayed pregnancy and less breast feeding can cause breast cancer). For uterine cervical cancer the common causes are early and multiple children, multiple partners, low personal hygiene, infection by a virus (Human Papilloma Virus). In some cases (less than 5%), a genetic abnormality is found which can predispose to cancers in many members of the same family (mainly of breast, ovaries and bowel).

What are the symptoms of cancer?
Loss of appetite and body weight, an ulcer which is not healing, lump which is rapidly increasing, persistent change of voice, bleeding with cough, stool or urine, inte-rmenstrual bleeding, difficulty in swallowing etc.

Some common
misconceptions:
Cancer means death- Most cancers if detected early can be cured completely.

Cancer is contagious
– it is not

Biopsy can cause cancer or spread of cancer- Biopsy or any surgery does not cause a benign tumour to turn cancerous. Taking a small sample of tissue (mostly done by Fine/ Wide bore Needle or a small punch forceps) do not cause any spread. The doctors can guide you regarding the best way of doing it. Biopsy is important before embarking on a major surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy as the tumour may actually be not malignant at all. Even if malignant, the treatment strategy is completely different in different kinds of cancer, so it is important to plan beforehand by knowing the nature of it.

Surgery in cancer causes spread of cancer- it is the reverse. The main treatment for most cancers in early stage is to remove the tumour along with some good healthy tissue margins and the neighbouring glands which may be involved. Removing a tumour partially is always bad and is never advisable. If the tumour is big and when complete surgical excision is not possible, chemotherapy (anti-cancer drugs) or radiotherapy is used to reduce the size and make it operable.

Cancer is hereditary- in 95% cases they are not. So there is no need to panic if only one member in the family had cancer, as it may be just accidental. However, if there are 2 or more members who are affected, it will definitely be advisable to see an Oncologist who can assess the risks and order relevant tests.

Chemotherapy is painful and causes severe vomiting and permanent hair-loss-
Although some strong chemotherapies which are administered in advanced diseases may cause vomiting, diarrhoea, low White Cell count and hence low Immunity etc., these can be counteracted by some preventive medications. Hair-loss is only temporary and does not occur with most of the chemotherapies.

Cancer can cause a very painful death- fortunately with different medicines which are now available and also with radiotherapy in some cases; pain can be very well controlled in advanced diseases where the patient cannot be cured. A new modality is Interventional pain therapy where the nerves conducting pain to the brain can be blocked by injection at specific sites.

There is no diagnostic or treatment facility in Eastern India- this is about time people of Eastern India realizes that there is no need to travel to far south or west or outside India for management of cancer. It is not only expensive to travel long distances, but causes unnecessary mental stress on the patient, when they prefer to stay in their locality and get maximum support from all the near and dear ones. There are enough facilities available in Eastern India for all classes of people. You may take help of different help lines, media and internet to find out which one suits you most.

Take home messages:
Cancer is preventable by avoiding the risk factors, and can be detected early if people come forward to the doctors with symptoms mentioned above without ignoring them. There is no need to think that one should not do tests as that may cause cancer or expose the fact that he or she is harbouring cancer. On the contrary, it is prudent to detect a cancer or a pre-cancerous area which can then be completely cured. The more it is neglected the worse is the result and more aggressive and expensive will be the treatment. Many organs like breast, limbs, larynx (voice-box) etc. can be preserved in early stages with the new modalities of treatment. It is not contagious, and hence it is important that the families give maximum support to the victims rather than staying away in fear.

Biopsies are advisable before embarking on a treatment and surgery is the treatment in most of the cancers in the early stage. There is no need to panic about radiotherapy and chemotherapy- in expert hands the side-effects are minimum and can improve the results significantly. Even in advanced stages symptom control can be well achieved with the Palliative care team and different Support groups. Together we must fight to remove all the misconceptions and try and prevent this potentially preventable and curable disease.

(The writer is Immediate Past President of IASO, Medical Director & Prof in Dept of Surgical Oncology, Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre & Research Institute, Thakurpukur, Kolkata)

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement