Cancer Issues
Cancer Fact or Fiction: Separating Myths from Good Information
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Apr 3, 2012 - 6:00:14 PM
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It is important to separate fact from fiction. Some of the most common cancer myths not only cultivate false ideas and fears but also can interfere with how people think and behave when facing cancer in themselves or in a loved one. It is important that the health messengers within the family and community have the most accurate information about cancer. In many Hispanic families, that is often the woman running the household. It is good for these health messengers and the people who listen to them to at least be aware of some of the most common cancer myths so that misinformation doesn't stand in the way of getting counsel from a medical professional.
What Will Happen to Me If I Get Cancer?
Myth--Cancer is a death sentence. The fact is that more than 12 million cancer survivors are living in the United States. Thanks to improved treatments and earlier diagnosis of some cancers, more than 3 of every 5 cancer patients are alive 5 years after their diagnosis. For children, the 5-year survival rate is 4 in 5.
Who Gets Cancer and Why
Myth--Cancer is contagious. You cannot catch cancer from someone who has it. What can spread among people are microorganisms (viruses and bacteria), and a few of these can cause cancer. Recent Hispanic immigrants may have a greater risk of some cancers caused by infectious agents if there was a higher prevalence of related infections in their country of origin.
Myth--If a parent or close family member had cancer, you will inherit it. Cancer develops when genes change in certain ways, but most of these changes occur during a person's lifetime and are not inherited. But some cancer-causing gene changes are inherited, so if a certain cancer seems to run in your family it is important to discuss this with a doctor.
Myth--People get cancer from . . . (just fill in the blank as to what you have heard). Scientists are continuously doing research to determine whether particular natural or manmade substances cause cancer. Research shows that the following are not likely to cause cancer: cell phones, microwaves, fluoridated water, hair dyes, deodorants, sugar, artificial sweeteners like saccharin and aspartame, and low-frequency magnetic fields produced by power lines and household electric appliances.
What You Can Do About It
Myth--You have no control over your own cancer risk. Although scientists haven't figured out how to completely prevent cancer, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of certain cancers. For example:
-- Not smoking or quitting smoking greatly reduces your risk of developing
and dying from lung cancer.
-- Maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active cuts your risk
of several cancers.
-- HPV vaccines prevent infection with the virus that causes most cervical
cancers. And regular cervical cancer screening detects most cervical
abnormalities so that they can be treated before they become cancer.
-- Colorectal cancer screening reduces the risk of developing and dying
from colorectal cancer.
-- For women age 40 and older, getting regular mammograms reduces the
chance of dying from breast cancer.
Myth--Your attitudes and beliefs can help you beat cancer. Unfortunately, despite many studies, this appears to be a myth. But a positive attitude may improve the quality of your life during and after treatment. Many people say that focusing on the joys in life and things that they can control helped them get through cancer treatment. Spending time with family and friends, taking part in hobbies and activities when possible, and enjoying the little things in life may help one better manage the stresses and worries of cancer.
These are only some of the false and misleading ideas that can confuse and mislead people about the progress being made in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. You can learn more from NCI about cancer prevention and screening.
NCI leads the National Cancer Program and the NIH effort to dramatically reduce the burden of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI web site at www.cancer.gov or call NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). More articles and videos in the culturally relevant Lifelines series are available at www.cancer.gov/lifelines.
Web Site: http://www.cancer.gov
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