"FIGHT LIKE A WARRIOR"
Currently, 4,00,00 children worldwide are battling cancer. As cancer kills more people than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined, this year’s World Childhood Cancer Day topic is refuting damaging cancer myths and beliefs. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that avoidable and treatable diseases will continue to kill millions of people around the world unless significant action is taken.
As children, we are all inquisitive and have a lot of questions. However, these questions are the path to finding solutions and learning about everything around us. Though objectively erroneous, ideas about how cancer begins and spreads frequently appear to make sense, especially when based on outmoded theories.
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However, incorrect cancer beliefs can cause unnecessary anxiety and even obstruct reasonable cancer preventive and treatment decisions. This SLTL medical blog contains the most up-to-date scientific evidence on some common cancer myths and beliefs.
Cancer can be a death sentence?
- Because of misunderstandings and disinformation, cancer remains one of the most feared diseases. By encouraging effective cancer prevention and early detection technologies, we can disprove the notion that cancer is a death sentence.
- Many cancers can be treated with prompt treatment. Many previously lethal tumours are now treatable with proper treatment. Cancer care has been altered by advances in risk assessment, prevention, early detection, and therapy, leading to better patient outcomes.
- One prevalent misconception is that cancer treatment prevents you from living at home, working, or engaging in your normal activities. Side effects of medications can be controlled with medicine. As a result, you will be able to work and remain active while receiving therapy.
- Cancer has become significantly more durable as a result of recent advances in early detection. Thanks to a healthy lifestyle and effective therapies, it is now possible to live a healthy and normal life with cancer.
A tumour biopsy or cancer surgery can cause cancer to spread?
Surgery has a very low chance of causing cancer to spread to other parts of the body. Doctors use special tools and take various steps to prevent cancer cells from spreading during biopsies or surgery to remove tumours. When removing tissue from multiple locations of the body, for example, they use different surgical instruments for each location.
Exposure to air worsens cancer?
No. Tumors will not grow faster or spread to other parts of the body as a result of air exposure.
Can cancer be transmitted from person to person?
Cancer, in general, is not a disease that spreads swiftly from one person to the next. Cancer can only be passed from one person to another by organ or tissue transplantation. A person who receives an organ or tissue from a cancer-stricken donor may be at a higher risk of developing transplant-related cancer in the future. On the other hand, the risk of malignancy is exceedingly low—roughly two instances per 10,000 organ transplants. Doctors make every effort to avoid using organs or tissue from cancer patients.
Certain viruses (for example, certain types of human papillomavirus, or HPV) and bacteria can cause cancer in some people (such as Helicobacter pylori). While viruses and bacteria can be passed from person to person, the malignancies they cause cannot.
What role does my attitude play in determining whether I am at risk for or likely to recover from cancer?
There is currently no substantial scientific evidence associating a person’s “attitude” to their risk of developing or dying from cancer. It’s normal to feel upset, angry, or dejected while dealing with cancer, but also to feel cheery or buoyant at times.
Positive people are more likely to maintain social interactions and stay active, and physical activity and emotional support can aid in cancer management. As a result, you may feel better and be able to cope with your cancer more effectively.
Can sugar increase my cancer risk?
No. Despite the fact that cancer cells require more sugar (glucose) than normal cells, no research has shown that eating sugar causes cancer to worsen or that ceasing eating sugar causes cancer to shrink or disappear.
A high-sugar diet, on the other hand, can result in excessive weight gain, and obesity has been related to an increased risk of developing a variety of cancers. Consuming extra sugar raises cholesterol levels, which might harm your heart health and lead to coronary heart disease.
What are the risks of using artificial sweeteners?
No. Saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, and neotame are artificial sweeteners (sugar substitutes) that have been tested for safety and shown to have no evidence of causing cancer in humans. Except for cyclamate, the Food and Drug Administration has approved all of these artificial sweeteners for sale in the United States.
Is it possible to cure cancer with herbal products?
No. Although some research suggests that alternative or complementary therapies, such as herbs, may help patients cope with the side effects of cancer treatment, no herbal drugs have been demonstrated to be useful in cancer treatment. Certain herbal drugs can be harmful when combined with chemotherapy or radiation therapy because they can reduce the effectiveness of these treatments. Patients with cancer should consult their doctor about any complementary and alternative medicine products they are using, such as vitamins and herbal supplements. For more information, see Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Does having a family member with cancer make me more likely to develop the disease?
Most emphatically not. Cancer is produced by harmful gene mutations (mutations). Only about 5 to 10% of cancers are caused by harmful mutations passed down through generations. Multiple family members with a hereditary cancer-causing mutation are more likely to have the same type of cancer. These cancers are referred to as “hereditary” or “familial.”
The remaining 90 to 95 percent of cancers are caused by spontaneous mutations that arise as a person ages and is exposed to environmental factors such as cigarette smoke and radiation. Cancers that are “non-hereditary” or “spontaneous” are so labelled.
Is it safe to assume that I will be immune to cancer if no one in my family has had it?
No. According to the most recent data, approximately 38% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. The vast majority of cancers are caused by genetic changes that occur naturally as people age and are exposed to environmental effects such as cigarette smoking and radiation. Other factors such as the type of food you eat, how much you eat, and whether or not you exercise can all have an impact on your cancer risk. ?
Breast cancer and antiperspirants: Are they linked?
No. So far, the best studies have found no evidence of a link between antiperspirant and deodorant chemicals and changes in breast tissue.
Are you at risk of cancer if you use hair dye?
According to scientific evidence, using personal hair colour does not appear to increase the risk of cancer. Other research suggests that hairdressers and barbers who use a lot of hair colour and other chemical products on a daily basis may be at a higher risk of bladder cancer.
What is the risk of cancer from cell phones?
No, according to the most recent research Cancer is caused by genetic alterations, however, mobile phones emit a type of low-frequency radiation that does not affect DNA.
Is cancer caused by power lines?
No, according to the most recent research Power lines emit both electric and magnetic energy. The electric energy of power lines can be easily shielded or decreased by walls and other objects. Magnetic energy is emitted by power lines, which is a low-frequency type of radiation that does not destroy DNA.
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