Its Time To Get Aware About Cancer Myths And Facts

Cancer is one of the scary diseases known these days, and more scariest are the claims regarding it. It can be unnecessary to worry about your health if you have misconceptions about cancer.

On the occasion of National Cancer Awareness Day, BW Wellbeing has spoken to Dr Anil D'cruz, Director of Oncology at Apollo Cancer centres. He brings the myths and facts about cancer to the surface and most importantly says that cancer cannot be cured through alternate ways except allopathy. Read the full conversation to get much more aware of cancer. Excerpts;

We have often been hearing that 'Cancer has no Answer'. Do you consider it a myth or a fact?

It's a myth! The reason is, if cancer is detected early, it can be cured at least up to 90 per cent, which itself says that cancer is curable. Unfortunately, in our country two-thirds or three-fourths of cancer is detected in the late stage. As a result, the success of cancer cure remains between maybe 5-25 per cent, and that's why the vast majority succumbs which makes people think that cancer is non-curable.

There are certain cancers which have a biological basis, there is something that changes in the gene. If you can target those things with targeted treatment, then the cure is very possible.

So, it can be said that if cancer is detected in the initial stage then one can be completely cured.

Definitely, close to 90 per cent.

Like other ailments such as diabetes or heart diseases, is it that cancer is growing among youth nowadays?

You see generally cancer is a lifestyle disease and it occurs in an ageing population. So at present two-thirds of cancers occur in the developed world, and one-third occur in the developing world such as India. However, our lifestyles in India are changing. Now our food, drinks, pollution, our habits such as tobacco, and smoking are like western habits.

Ladies not breastfeeding or not having children, people eating junk food, getting obese, all these habits lead to cancer. So cancer generally being an ageing disease, still can be seen in our country at younger ages as compared to the West. As much as the lifespan increases to 80-90, we will see more cancer counts. It is primarily because our population is 1.3 billion and many people are young, when cancer is diagnosed at an age, the sheer number is much larger.

What are the misconceptions about cancer that people have?

Many things!

One, people feel that a painless lump is non-cancerous. Do remember that any lump which is a new lump in our body is proven to be cancer particularly if we are above the age of 40. People must see a doctor if they detect a lump in the body above forty years. Cancer is not painful, it is painless in the early stage. When it starts invading the skin and bone it causes pain, till then it is already stage 4.

Second, cancer in the early stages causes inawkward symptoms. For instance, if someone has gut cancer then in the initial stage they can just see blood while stool passing. After that when it obstructs the intestine causing pain, cancer had already been to stage 2 or 3. So, people should pay attention to the warning signs.

The third misconception is that cancer is contagious. One cannot transfer cancer to their relatives if staying at the same house.

Another misconception that people have is that cancer is caused by cell phones. There is no proof for this. However, I advise that stay away from excessive use of cell phones that may cause any type of harm.

Many people also ask me if biopsy can spread cancer. No, a biopsy is done so that cancer does not spread in the body.

Is it true that cancer is not contagious unless it is sexually transmitted?

Yes. Most cancers are not contagious, but there are several that are caused by infectious agents. One of these agents is the viruses like hepatitis A or B, HIV, and HPV. The sexually transmitted viruses get in due to unprotected sex, multiple partners and oral sex. So wherever the virus is responsible for cancer, it can be contagious. Other cancers are not contagious. However, one has to have a distinction between contagious and genetically transmitted cancers. Some cancers run through families, so there's a difference between contagious and genetically gotten cancer.

So, whatever causes cancers or whatever the symptoms are, can it not be seen in the youth?

Of course, many people before 40 can have cancers but generally, cancers that occur at a young age are pediatric cancer, that is before age of 16. It can cause cancers of the brain, bone, and blood. But in the middle-age that is between 16-40, the cancer incidence is slightly lower. If someone has strong genetically passing cancer, then a person between 16-40 is prone to it.

What are the facts about the disease that might be unknown to many?

In our country, many people who get diagnosed with cancer run away from allopathic treatment and try alternate medicines especially herbal medicines, ayurvedic or homoeopathic. As of today, no cancer is cured by alternate medicines.

Also, people should know that being overweight risks cancer. Women with obesity are prone to six to eight cancers.

Another thing people do not know is that cancer is curable if you pick it up in the early stage. If treated in the early stage, maybe a person would just go through surgery or therapy and is cured for the whole life.

Why is it so that cancer should only be treated by allopathy and not ayurveda or homoeopathy?

In allopathy, if there's a new treatment that comes, we do a trial. In trials, one group of people get standard treatment while another group gets a new treatment. These trials go through a proper ethical committee.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has signed guidelines on how to do research. When they are convinced that patients will not be harmed by the trial, only then it can go ahead.
Alternate medicines do not have any study or scientific proof. When a patient goes for alternate treatment, stage 1 become stage 2 or 4, and it becomes too late and harmful for the patient.

What advice do you suggest for the prevention of cancer?

Don't take tobacco and alcohol. Both are harmful and cause cancer.

Beware of sexually transmitted infections. So please take vaccination for hepatitis B. Do not take non-sterilised injections. Also, avoid unprotected and oral sex, and multiple partners.

Do not be obese. If the fat raises 10 per cent more than your body, one is prone to cancer.

A good diet is important. Take a diet filled with vitamins A, C, D, green-leafy vegetables, and coloured fruits.

If these are followed, one can prevent half of the cancers.