Dr Rekha Arya MBBS MD -RADIATION ONCOLOGIST

1. Myths & Facts About Cancer
MYTHS
FACTS

2. MYTH1: Cancer is contagious
• HPV virus - Cervical, Anal,& Head and
Neck cancers
• Hepatitis B &C Virus- Liver cancers
• H. pylori - Stomach Cancers
• These virus and bacteria can spread
person to person but not CANCER
FACT: Cancer is not Contagious

3. MYTH 2 :For most cancers, a biopsy will cause cancer cells to
spread.
• During a Biopsy, a doctor
takes a small sample of cells
from your body to check it for
cancer.
FACT: With most types of the disease, it's
very unlikely that this procedure will cause
cancer to spread

4. „MYTH 3: If you have a family history of cancer, you will get it too
• Family History - Increases risk
• Prevention-Healthy eating habits,
Maintaining a healthy weight,
Exercising, Limiting alcoholic beverages,
Practicing sun safety, and Avoiding
tobacco products.
• If you have inherited certain cancer
genes that put you at high risk for
cancer, your doctor may recommend
surgery or medications to reduce the
chance that cancer will develop.
FACT: Increases the Risk but
Not 100% True

5. MYTH 4: Cancer Thrives on Sugar or
Do artificial sweeteners cause cancer?
• All cells in the body, both healthy cells
and cancer cells, depend on sugar to
grow and function.
• Consuming too many calories from sugar
has been linked to weight gain, obesity,
and diabetes, which increase the risk of
developing cancer and other health
problems.
FACT: There is no proof that
eating sugar will speed up the
growth of cancer

6. MYTH 5: Cancer treatment is usually worse than the disease
• Cancer treatments, such as
chemotherapy and radiation
therapy, can cause unpleasant
and sometimes serious side
effects.
FACT: Recent advances have resulted
in many drugs and radiation
treatments that have more
manageable side effects

7. MYTH 6: It is easier to remain unaware you have cancer
• You should not ignore the
symptoms or signs of cancer,
such as a breast lump or an
abnormal-looking mole.
• Because treatment is usually
more effective during the early
stages of cancer, an early
diagnosis often improves a
person’s chance of survival.
FACT: Never ignore sign and symptoms of
suspicious cancer

8. MYTH 7: My attitude will have an effect on my cancer.
• No scientific evidence that a
positive attitude will prevent
cancer, help people with cancer
live longer, or keep cancer from
coming back.
FACT: Positive thinking, such as
relaxation techniques, support
groups, and a support network
of family and friends, may
improve a person’s quality of life
and outlook

9. MYTH 8: Drug companies, the government, and the medical establishment are
hiding a cure for cancer.
• Here will not be a single cure for
cancer. Hundreds of types of
cancer exist, and they respond
differently to various types of
treatment FACT: No one is withholding a
cure for cancer

10. MYTH10 : Is cancer a death sentence?
• Five-year survival rates for
some cancers, such as
breast, prostate, and thyroid
cancers, now are 90 percent
or better.
• Cancer patient survival
depend on many factors,
including whether the cancer
is slow or fast growing,
metasesis, whether effective
treatments are available, the
person’s overall health.
Many patients survive very long
after treatment

11. MYTH 11: Do cell phones cause cancer?
• Cell phones emit a type of
low-frequency energy that
does not damage genes and
don’t cause cancer.
NO

12. MYTH 12: Are there herbal products that can cure cancer?
• No herbal products have been shown to be effective for treating
cancer
NO

13. MYTH 13:IF no one in my family has had cancer, does that mean
I’m risk-free?
• Most cancers are caused by genetic changes that occur
throughout a person’s lifetime as a natural result of aging and
exposure to environmental factors, such as tobacco smoke and
radiation.
• Other factors, such as what kind of food you eat, how much you
eat, and whether you exercise, may also influence your risk of
developing cancer.
NO

14. Myth 14: Microwaving Food In Plastic Containers Increase The
Risk Of Cancer
• It is perfectly safe to use plastic
containers that are approved by
the FDA as microwave
friendly. Microwaving food in
plastic containers does not
increase your risk of cancer.
NO

15. Myth 15: Cancer Will Always Come Back
Cancer evolves in stages and has the tendency to return even after
effective treatment. However, this does not hold true for all cases.
NO,Not true for all
cases