Myths and reality about oncology

Cancer development begins with a single cell. In the DNA, a “breakdown” occurs, which leads to its degeneration from healthy to malignant. Further, the disease develops and progresses, the cells divide and spread to other tissues and organs. What caused this and how to stop this process remains a mystery. Science is gradually moving forward in search of answers to these questions. At the same time, there are many articles on the Internet on the topic that look plausible. Not all of them are supported by evidence, some publications serve as an advertisement for alternative treatment and promise miraculous healing. You can find articles about foods that kill cancer, or about cancer being as contagious as the common cold. The topic of oncology is constantly overgrown with myths, so let’s look at a few of the most common of them that should be dispelled.

Myth #1: If you have cancer, you will soon die.

A cancer diagnosis is a death sentence. This myth is quite common and has already become a stereotype for people who are faced with the disease. Such cases have actually happened before. When it was difficult to diagnose the disease, and many modern technologies were not yet available, people could “burn out” from cancer in a few weeks. Now is a different time, innovative methods for detecting pathology and modern medicines to combat it have appeared. But the existing stereotype still destroys people’s hope for a positive outcome of the disease. Often, it is precisely because of this belief that people are afraid to go to the doctor and undergo an examination, thus postponing the diagnosis of the disease to advanced stages, or refuse to be treated at all.

It is very important not to ignore symptoms that may be indicative of cancer. For example, unexplained weight loss, chest tightness, or skin changes (appearance of age spots or moles) should alert and be a reason to see a doctor. As a general rule, the earlier cancer is diagnosed, the better the chances of effective treatment. Cancer is devastating, but not hopeless.

Today, there are many effective screening methods for detecting cancer. Even if the pathology is detected at a late stage and is not treatable, therapy can help to significantly improve the patient’s quality of life and prolong it.

Myth #2: There was no cancer before

Increasingly, one can come across the opinion that cancer is a modern disease. But in fact, it has existed just as long as humans. Various manifestations of oncological diseases are described in the works of Egyptian and Greek doctors. During archaeological excavations, modern scientists find signs of cancer on ancient human bones. In 1970, the Italian surgeon T. Greco drew the attention of physicians to Rembrandt’s painting “Semi-naked at the stove.” During the exhibition of paintings by the famous artist, the doctor noticed a deformity of the left breast and axillary region of the woman depicted in the picture. Many colleagues agreed with him. They are convinced that Rembrandt painted a woman with a malignant tumor of the left breast.

Definitely, now in the world there are more people with an established oncological diagnosis. According to a number of studies^[1], published on Our World in Data, there were 1990 million cancer patients in the world in 45, and already 2017 million in 100. This is primarily due to the fact that modern technologies make it possible to better diagnose cancer. Physicians of past eras had no such luxury. Unfavorable factors that accompany the life of a modern person also play a role. Improper nutrition, bad habits, bad ecology – all this together can provoke the appearance of cancer.

Age is considered a key risk factor for the development of oncopathology. As the body ages, DNA damage occurs in cells. They can lead to the development of tumors. In today’s world, according to the National Cancer Institute^[2], a quarter of new diagnoses of this disease occur in people aged 65 to 74 years. Five thousand years ago, life expectancy was about 35 years, that is, the vast majority of people simply did not live to the age when the occurrence of malignant tumors is characteristic.

Myth #3: Cancer is contagious

Cancer is not an infectious disease. It is not transmitted by airborne droplets or by contact. If several people in your family had cancer, this only indicates the presence of a genetic predisposition to one or another type of cancer. But this does not guarantee that you will definitely get sick.

Some viruses and bacteria can provoke the degeneration of a cell from benign to malignant. Tumors that have arisen as a result of such exposure are called virus-associated. For example, the presence of the bacterium Helicobacter Pylori in the body can provoke stomach cancer, but in reality, according to the article^[3], published in Cancer Research, the tumor occurs in one to three people out of 100.

Cancer can only be transmitted by direct transmission of malignant cells. For example, in organ transplants. At the same time, even if cells are transferred from a cancer patient to a healthy person, according to a number of studies^[4], in 2/3 of cases, foreign cells are destroyed by the human immune system.

Myth #4: Certain foods prevent cancer.

There are a huge number of diets and theories according to which the use of certain foods can prevent the occurrence of cancer. In fact, there is no anti-cancer diet, and there is no such thing as a superfood that can fight the disease. According to a number of studies^[5], rational nutrition can only reduce the risk of developing pathologies by 30-40%. Since malnutrition can lead, for example, to obesity, which can already provoke cancer, it is important to monitor your diet.

Eating foods with vegetable proteins, antioxidants and vitamins helps to strengthen the immune system and good digestion. Of course, such nutrition does not serve as a “shield” against cancer, but it definitely has a preventive effect. To reduce the risk of cancer, it is necessary to adhere to a healthy lifestyle: give up bad habits, monitor body weight and move more.

Myth #5: Non-traditional treatments are more effective than drugs

This is one of the harmful and completely unjustified myths. It states that alternative therapies can replace traditional ones. There are many videos and posts on the Internet about miraculous healings, but there is not a single proof of authenticity, there is no scientific justification or research.

Fraudsters offer to cure cancer in various ways – from treating the disease with soda to vodka with oil. Unfortunately, none of these methods work. The advantage and value of evidence-based medicine is that before going on sale, a drug undergoes clinical trials and many studies, proving its effectiveness. We can be sure that it will definitely not harm and has the effect that is stated. Cancer is the name of a huge group of diseases. There is no single miraculous way to deal with it. Thanks to the development of medicine and the development of new drugs, it is now possible to select a treatment regimen and dosage of drugs individually. Pathology has become not a sentence, but rather a chronic disease with which one can live.

A prime example of an alternative treatment that I have personally encountered is coffee enemas. The patient tried to cure the disease on her own in this way, as a result, she was admitted to the clinic already at the stage of tumor decay. Luckily we were able to help her. But in most of these cases, people simply do not have time to see a doctor and die.

However, I believe that it is not always necessary to dissuade the patient from alternative therapies. If such treatment does not harm and proceeds along with the main therapy, then there is nothing wrong with it. A positive attitude and faith help a person cope with difficulties, improve the quality of life. If a person feels better, conditionally, from vegetable juices or singing mantras, then they should not be banned.

Myth #6: Mobile phones cause cancer

In recent years, the use of smartphones has become a part of the daily life of most people. They are low power radio devices that receive and transmit microwave radiation. There was a hypothesis that the phone causes cancer, especially brain tumors, as they are held close to the head when used.

According to the article^[6], published by the WHO, found no association between mobile phone use and an increase in the incidence of cancer. Among the short-term effects of interaction, only the heating of tissues from electromagnetic fields is distinguished. Since some of the energy from using phones is absorbed by the skin and other superficial tissues, this leads to a slight increase in temperature in the brain and other organs of the body. Research into the link between brain tumors and smartphone use is ongoing, as some cancers may only appear decades after the event that triggered them. Phones have only become widely used since the 1990s, and it is now only possible to study cancers that show up in a shorter period of time. The relationship between such tumors and radiofrequency radiation has not been established to date.

Myth #7: Bras cause cancer.

The essence of the myth is that the bra allegedly squeezes the chest and disrupts the outflow of lymph, which causes a failure in the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the tissues. As a result, toxins accumulate in the body, which contributes to the development of cancer. The nearest lymph nodes are located in the armpit and no bra has any effect on them. The maximum that can be expected from a bra, if it is uncomfortable and you have chosen the wrong shape of the “frame”, is that it can press and rub the skin. Otherwise, the bra does not affect anything and performs rather a decorative function. Among the scientifically proven risk factors for developing breast cancer are heredity, age over 50 years and hormonal imbalance. To prevent the disease, women after 35 years of age should have an annual mammogram and ultrasound of the mammary glands. Scanning allows you to identify the initial stages of cancer, when it is much easier to deal with.

There are many other myths that mislead patients and distort the real state of affairs in the field of cancer treatment. If you have questions or concerns related to oncopathology, you should not look for answers on the Internet, but rather consult a doctor.

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