Table of contents:
- Know the facts behind the myths about cancer
- 1. Myth: Biopsy makes cancer cells spread
- 2. Myth: Drinking milk can cause cancer
- 3. Myth: Cancer is contagious
- 4. Myth: Cell phone radiation can cause cancer
- 5. Myth: Artificial sweeteners can cause cancer
- 6. Myth: Cancer cannot be treated
- 7. Myth: Cancer can be treated naturally
- 8. Myth: If someone in your family gets cancer, you will also get it
- 9. Myth: If your family is cancer free, you are also cancer free
- 10. Myth: Everyone has cancer cells in their body
- 11. Myth: Cancer treatment is more painful than the disease
- 12. Myth: Every tumor is cancer
- 13. Myth: Using plastic bottles or containers can cause cancer
- 14. Myth: Using deodorants causes cancer
- 15. Myth: Cooking in a Teflon fryer can cause cancer
Malignant tumors or cancer can be life-threatening, causing concern for you and your family. There is a variety of information circulating about this disease, from print, electronic, internet, to the people around you. Unfortunately, the information that is spread about cancer is not all facts, some are in the form of myths. Come on, take a deeper look at the following review.
Know the facts behind the myths about cancer
Knowing the facts and myths about malignant tumors is very important. Not only adding insight, but also a way to prevent or detect disease early.
Here are some myths about malignant tumors that are circulating and you need to know the truth.
1. Myth: Biopsy makes cancer cells spread
A biopsy is a medical test used to detect cancer. When this test is taking place, sometimes the surgeon also performs the operation at once and this is called a biopsy operation. Many thought that when the surgery was performed, cancer cells could spread to other healthy tissues or organs.
The fact of this myth is that the chances of spreading cancer cells to other healthy tissues or organs are very small. The National Cancer Institute explains that surgeons perform biopsy using methods and steps that comply with medical standards.
For example, when cancer cells or malignant tumors are removed, surgeons use different surgical tools for each area. That is why, the risk of spreading cancer cells is very unlikely to occur.
2. Myth: Drinking milk can cause cancer
Knowing the causes of cancer allows a person to prevent and lower the risk. This is what researchers are currently doing, namely observing various things in everyday life that might increase the risk of or cause cancer.
Drinking large amounts of milk was thought to increase the risk of prostate cancer. The reason is because the suspected content of casein (milk protein) and the hormone bovine somatotrophin (BST) in milk can trigger abnormal cells and become cancerous.
However, Cancer Research UK reveals the fact from the cancer myth that there is no solid evidence that milk can cause cancer in humans. Especially because milk contains calcium and animal protein which are good for the body. In fact, cancer sufferers can still drink milk to fulfill their protein, calcium, and vitamin D intake.
3. Myth: Cancer is contagious
Concerns about cancer, may create a myth that spreads in society that cancer can be contagious. In fact, the facts from this cancer information are not entirely true.
Cancer is not a disease that spreads easily from person to person. The only way cancer cells can spread from a person to a healthy person is through an organ or tissue transplant.
Based on a report from the American Cancer Society, the spread of cancer in this way is very low, which is 2 cases out of 10,000 organ transplants.
4. Myth: Cell phone radiation can cause cancer
There are many myths circulating about the causes of tumors, one of which is cell phone radiation. The reason is that cell phones emit radiofrequency energy which is a form of non-ionizing radiation, and nearby body tissues can absorb this energy.
However, the facts from this cancer information cannot be proven accurately by research. The radiofrequency energy from cell phones does not cause DNA damage that can lead to cancer.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) conducted a large-scale study on rodents exposed to radiofrequency energy (the kind used in cell phones). These investigations are carried out in very specialized laboratories that can determine and control the source of radiation and assess its effects.
What researchers learned about cell phones and cancer:
- Following more than 420,000 cell phone users, the researchers found no evidence of a link between cell phones and brain tumors.
- A study found a link between cell phones and salivary gland cancer, but only a small number of participants who experienced it.
After assessing several studies with a focus on possible links between cell phones and gliomas and non-cancerous brain tumors called neuromas, the membersInternational Agency for Research on Cancer(part of the World Health Organization) agrees that there is only limited evidence to suggest that cell phone radiation is a cancer-causing (carcinogenic) agent.
5. Myth: Artificial sweeteners can cause cancer
The sweet foods you consume can contain natural sugars or added sweeteners. Foods that are added sweeteners, if consumed in large quantities, can cause health problems. However, the type of food causes cancer, including a myth that is not true.
Health experts have conducted research on the safety of artificial sweeteners, such as saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame. From the studies conducted, there is no evidence that sugary foods can cause cells in the body to turn abnormal.
However, consumption of sugary foods should be limited, especially in cancer patients. Excessive sugar intake can cause uncontrolled weight gain (obesity). This condition turns out to reduce the effectiveness of the cancer treatment that is being undertaken.
6. Myth: Cancer cannot be treated
Someone who gets a diagnosis of cancer, of course, will feel sad, stressed, and afraid. This is normal because cancer is a progressive disease (it can get worse over time without treatment).
However, fear and sadness can arise because of inaccurate information about incurable cancer. The real fact is cancer can be cured.
In stage 1 and 2 cancers, the cancer cells have not yet invaded the nearby lymph nodes so that the cure rate for the disease is quite large.
Meanwhile, in stage 3 cancer, some patients can recover with surgical removal of cancer cells or tissue and therapy. Others who undergo treatment may be able to reduce the severity and symptoms.
In stage 4 or late cancer, then it is declared incurable because the cancer cells have spread to other areas that are located far away. At this stage, treatment can help control symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life.
7. Myth: Cancer can be treated naturally
Cancer can be cured if treated appropriately. The treatment options also vary, from surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other therapies. Not only that, researchers continue to develop cancer treatments to herbal treatments.
However, until now there are no herbal products that have been proven to be effective in killing cancer cells in the body. In fact, some herbal medicines may reduce the effectiveness of the doctor's treatment, and even cause side effects. Therefore, herbal medicine cannot be used as the main treatment to treat cancer.
8. Myth: If someone in your family gets cancer, you will also get it
The main cause of cancer is DNA mutation in cells. DNA contains a series of commands for cells to function normally. When DNA mutates, the command system in it becomes damaged so that cells function improperly.
The Mayo Clinic states that cancer has a risk factor, one of which is heredity. This makes the assumption or myth that if one family member gets cancer, then the other family must have the same disease.
In fact, heredity is indeed a risk factor for cancer. However, it has very little effect. Only 5 to 10 percent of cases of cancer are caused by family descent. Keep in mind that there are other factors that contribute to the formation of cancer, such as an unhealthy lifestyle.
9. Myth: If your family is cancer free, you are also cancer free
Heredity does play a small role in the development of cancer in a person. However, it had very little effect. Most cases of cancer, are caused by gene mutations triggered by aging and exposure to carcinogenic environments, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, working in chemical factories, and so on.
So, the myth or the assumption that cancer-free because the family does not have a history of the disease is misinformation. Regardless of heredity, a person can still get this disease.
10. Myth: Everyone has cancer cells in their body
Does everyone have cancer cells in their body? The answer is no. Not everyone has cancer cells in their bodies. You have to understand where cancer comes from.
Cancer is a cell, not an organism such as a virus or bacteria that originates outside the human body. Cancer can indeed develop in the human body, but in a healthy person's body, there are no cancer cells in the body. Only people who have cancer have cancer cells in their bodies.
11. Myth: Cancer treatment is more painful than the disease
Cancer treatment, one of which is chemotherapy, does cause various side effects. Starting from hair loss, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, to fatigue felt by almost all cancer patients.
These side effects are enough to make patients who have not undergone chemotherapy become afraid and anxious. This then led to the assumption or myth that chemotherapy is more painful than cancer itself.
In fact, not following medication, such as chemotherapy, can make the disease worse at all. As a result, the symptoms of cancer are getting worse. Although the side effects are very disturbing, there are various additional treatments aimed at reducing these side effects, for example palliative therapy.
12. Myth: Every tumor is cancer
Cancer occurs due to certain abnormal cells in the body. These cells continue to divide without control, causing buildup, and sometimes forming tumors. But make no mistake, not all tumors are cancer. That means, a tumor is different from cancer.
Tumors that lead to cancer are known as malignant tumors. Meanwhile, non-cancerous tumors (benign tumors) can occur due to other media conditions.
13. Myth: Using plastic bottles or containers can cause cancer
Apart from taking a long time to disintegrate, plastic bottles and plastic containers are also a cause for concern because they are rumored to cause cancer.
The final study looked at a link between plastics and cancer. Although the chemicals in plastics can be transferred to food or drink, their levels are very low. In addition, studies have also found no accurate evidence that the use of plastic containers can cause cancer.
14. Myth: Using deodorants causes cancer
Deodorants, including cancer myths that are circulating in society. Deodorant is considered to be a cause of breast cancer because it contains aluminum which is applied to the underarm area near the breast. These chemicals are believed to absorb into the skin, affect hormones and change the tissue around the breasts. Unfortunately, the above assumptions are not proven accurately so they are still considered myths.
15. Myth: Cooking in a Teflon fryer can cause cancer
FOA or perfluorooctanoic acid is a chemical used in the process of making Teflon pans. PFOA was a hot topic of debate in the world of health. This chemical is cancerous (carcinogenic) and it is believed that over time it can settle in the body if you are exposed to it continuously.
Even so, this chemical residue is not much left in the final product of the Teflon pan that is finished. Most of the PFOA portion has evaporated during the factory combustion process.
There is no medical evidence that can support that touching a scratched Teflon surface or eating food processed on an etched Teflon face can cause cancer.
