10 Cancer Myths Debunked

Misinformation is contagious. The numbers of cancer myths are enough to drive anybody to the brink of paranoia. Our experts verify the top 10 cancer myths that you should not be losing sleep over. Click start gallery to find out.

This article is provided by Raffles Medical Group. For more information visit https://www.rafflesmedicalgroup.com/

1. Using indoor tanning beds does not cause skin cancer.

Some people think that getting an artificial tan means that they will not be at risk of skin cancer. However, the truth is: any tan, no matter how you get it, is a sign of skin damage. Tanning beds produce the same ultraviolet radiation as the sun. To prevent skin cancer, you should limit your exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

2. If your mum or dad had cancer, you will have it too.

It is true that you may have higher risks of developing certain types of cancer if an immediate relative has it. Yet this does not mean that one will definitely develop cancer because of one’s genes.

Many factors can help determine if the cancer in a family is hereditary. These include: The presence of certain types of cancer occurring in the same family (for e.g. breast, ovarian, colon and uterine cancers); The age of onset of cancer (particularly with breast cancer and colon cancer, cancer diagnosed before age 50 is considered more significant); and The number of relatives with cancer and how they are related to each other.

3. Cancer causes hair loss.

Cancer does not cause hair loss. Hair loss is a side effect of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The severity and symptoms of hair loss can vary amongst individuals. Therefore, not everyone who underwent these treatments would lose his or her hair.

4. Only women get breast cancer.

This is one of the biggest cancer myths of all. Men do get breast cancer, although it is rare. Less than 1% of the total breast cancer cases are male. If a man discovers a lump in the breast, he should immediately see an oncologist to exclude breast cancer.

5. Some injuries can cause cancer later in life.

This is an outdated belief that probably dates back to the 1800s. A fall, bruise or any other injury is almost never the cause of cancer. Sometimes a person might visit the doctor for an injury and find a tumour during consultation. The tumour is already present to begin with and not a result of the injury. People may also pay more attention to an injured part of their body, and some people discovered tumours while rubbing a painful area.

In some rare cases, long-standing and/or severe injuries can increase cancer risk. However, these account for only a small fraction of cancer cases. For example, skin cancer risk is somewhat increased in scars caused by thermal or chemical burns.

6. Cancer is always fatal.

Yes, cancer can cause death. However, due to the new breakthroughs in early detection of cancer, the risks of dying from cancer have decreased since the early 1990s. Routine screening has clearly led to an impressive decrease in death from several cancers, including cervical, breast and colon cancers.

More people with cancer live longer with a better quality of life. This is due to early diagnosis, lifestyle changes and better treatment options.

7. Cancer is always painful.

This is not always true. Cancers are usually not painful during the early stages. Some cancers never cause pain, though many advanced cancers do. Pain from cancer may be due to a number of reasons. For e.g. the tumour may be pressing on a nerve. However, there are many treatments available to manage cancer pain.

8. Surgery causes cancer to spread throughout the body.

Specialists in cancer surgery have the expertise to take biopsy samples and to remove tumours without causing spread of the cancer. In many cases, surgery is a necessary part of the cancer treatment plan.

Surgeons take extra precautions to prevent any chance of the cancer spreading. Doctors who perform surgery for cancer are specialists and are highly trained in the intricacies of cancer and the anatomy. Cancer patients should not let misconceptions of this nature deter them from seeking early treatments.

9. Older women don’t need Pap Smears

All women should go for regular Pap smear until her doctor advises that they are no longer necessary. This usually happens when a woman turns 65 and hasn’t had an abnormal Pap smear within the last 10 years. You should consult your doctor if you are unsure of when you should stop getting regular Pap smears.

10. Some people may be too old for cancer treatment.

Contrary to what some people think, there is no age limitation for the treatment of cancer.

There are side effects involved in all cancer treatments. Therefore, every individual should receive the treatment that is best suited for his or her condition. There are cases where older patients have other illnesses that may limit the use of certain treatments. It is thus important for all patients to talk to their doctor with regards to the best approach of towards treating cancer.

Source: Medscape

Written by

Sandra Ong

Cancer Myth