Cancer – myths and facts, and general symptoms you must know

There are many myths about cancer, which can make it difficult for physicians to talk openly about a patient’s cancer. Cancer is a disease in which some cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissue. These cells are abnormal.

Also, ‘cancer’ is the second-leading cause of death in the world, after ‘heart attack’. But survival rates of cancer patients are improving for many types of cancer. The advancement and improvements in cancer screening, treatment, and prevention, helped a lot to save lives.

Now let’s check for some myths – facts about Cancer :

 

Myth 1 – “There is no effective treatment for cancer”

Fact –  Cancer treatments are effective. As they can greatly reduce the risk of cancer spreading, prolongs survival. In many cases, these treatments can cause all signs and symptoms of cancer to even disappear.

Myth 2 – “Radiation therapy makes you radioactive”

Fact – External beam radiation therapy does not make patients radioactive. This is because the radiation does not stay in the body during or after treatment. It is safe for people to be with it. Implants used in internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy) may cause some people to be radioactive for a short time, depending on whether their implants are temporary or permanent. Patients must be guided by their doctors about any precautions that patients must take after this therapy.

Myth 3 – “Surgery causes cancer to spread throughout the body”

Fact –  Specialist surgeons know how to take biopsy samples safely and remove tumors without causing cancer to spread. The surgeon may remove some healthy tissue also around the cancer(tumor) to ensure that all of the detectable cancer is removed. For a few types of cancer, surgeons take extra precautions to prevent any chance of it spreading.

Myth 4 – “Cancer is contagious”

Fact –  Some people worry that if they have physical contact with someone who has cancer, they could catch it too. This is not true though. There are some precautions that cancer patients need to take.

Myth 5 – “People with cancer are too weak to work”

Fact – Some people are unable to work due to side effects from cancer treatment, or improvements. But some people are often able to continue working during treatment with the assistance of others or on their own.

Myth 6 – “Cancer treatments have side effects”

Fact – Chemotherapy drugs and radiation can destroy healthy blood cells too and harm the body’s production of new ones. The treatment can cause fatigue, paleness, shortness of breath, and a fast heartbeat. But there is hardly any other option than these treatments for cancer patients, as these are life-saving.

All the facts have been checked from authenticated sources.

Some general signs and symptoms associated with, but not specific to, cancer, include :

• Fatigue
• Lump or area of thickening that can be felt under the skin
• Weight changes, including unintended loss or gain
• Skin changes, such as yellowing, darkening or redness of the skin, sores that won’t heal, or changes to existing moles
• Changes in bowel or bladder habits
• Persistent cough or trouble breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Persistent indigestion or discomfort after eating
• Lasting, unexplained fevers or night sweats
• Unexplained bleeding or bruising
• Constant, unexplained muscle or joint pain, as per sources