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By Diane Griffith, HealthAtoZ writer
According to a recent survey by the American Cancer Society, a large number of Americans believe some common cancer myths are true. Several of these myths result in unnecessary fears, leading people to question the safety of such items as cell phones or antiperspirants. Others can be dangerous, causing people to avoid cancer treatment itself.
Take a look at these commonly believed cancer myths:
Myth 1: Treating cancer with surgery can disturb cancer cells, causing them to spread.
Highly trained specialists perform cancer surgery, taking precautions to prevent the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. These doctors can take safe biopsies and remove tumors without allowing the cancer to spread.
Myth 2: Cell phones cause cancer.
Although studies suggested a link between a rare type of brain tumor and cell phones, a consistent relationship between the two has not been found.
Myth 3: There is a cure for cancer, but the medical industry is hiding it from the public. It would hurt the industry financially to stop treating cancer.
The medical profession has quickly shared past breakthroughs (e.g., the polio vaccine) with the public. Also, doctors, scientists and their families develop cancer as often as the rest of the world - and want a cure just as badly.
There isn't one disease called "cancer." There are many different types requiring many different cures. Each day, advances are made in cancer research. A few decades ago, the number of children still alive 10 years after a diagnosis of leukemia was less than 10 percent. Today, nearly 80 percent of children with leukemia are cured with chemotherapy. These increased cure rates apply to other types of cancer as well.
Myth 4: Cancer is always painful.
Some cancers don't cause any pain, while others cause pain only in the late stages. Newer medications have been developed that can keep patients comfortable.
Myth 5: Antiperspirants can cause breast cancer.
Studies performed in 2002 and 2004 revealed no clear link between antiperspirants and breast cancer.
Myth 6: Microwaving plastic containers and wraps releases cancer-causing substances into food.
According to the FDA, any plastics released into microwaved foods are at very low, unharmful levels.
Myth 7: If you have a family history of breast cancer, you are likely to get the disease.
Just because you have a mother or sister with breast cancer, that doesn't mean you will get the disease. Chances increase with the number of relatives with breast cancer and the younger they are when they are diagnosed. However, only about 5 percent to 10 percent of women with breast cancer have an inherited breast cancer gene. Even that does not guarantee that they will get breast cancer.
Myth 8: Radiation and chemotherapy make you feel sick.
Some people experience nausea and vomiting; others do not. For those who do, medications are now available that are much more effective than those previously available. Many of them have no side effects.
Myth 9: You can become addicted or build up a tolerance to morphine.
Addiction to morphine is rare in someone with chronic cancer pain. If a patient does build up a tolerance, doctors can change dosage levels or switch medications to provide the patient relief.
Myth 10: Birth control pills cause breast cancer.
Birth control pills used to have high doses of hormones and were associated with a small risk for breast cancer. Today's birth control pills contain low doses of these hormones and aren't linked to breast cancer. In fact, they can provide protection against ovarian cancer.
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External Sources
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American Cancer Society
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breastcancer.org
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CancerCare
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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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