Ten Common Myths About Cancer

A cancer diagnosis can bring a great deal of emotion and uncertainty. There is a lot of information about cancer out there and not all of them are sound. To help patients better navigate their research as they seek for answers, Dayspring Cancer Clinic has provided a list of 10 common myths about cancer.

Myth #1: Cancer is always painful.

Fact: Not all cancer patients experience pain as some cancers may never cause pain. Additionally, not all therapies cause pain so it is important to ask your doctor. When one does experience pain from cancer, there are palliative care options that can help alleviate that pain as well.

Myth #2: Cancer therapies do more harm than the cancer.

Fact: Although it is true that certain treatments can have side effects, there continue to be advancements in medicine that can also minimize them. Furthermore, many modern therapies in alternative medicine have fewer side effects than conventional counterparts. 

Myth #3: Cancer is caused by negative emotions.

Fact: The causes of cancer are complex involving many factors from genetics to lifestyle and environmental factors. Negative emotions alone likely do not cause cancer, however overall emotional wellness is an important piece of one’s overall health. Having an overall positive outlook and attitude goes a long way in helping cancer patients go through therapies and treatments.

Myth #4: Smoking marijuana can cause cancer.

Fact: Evidence that suggest smoking marijuana is directly linked to causing cancer is inconclusive. However, smoking in general is a risk factor for those that are concerned about certain types of cancers including lung cancer.

Myth #5: Cancer is always symptomatic.

Fact: In early stages, there are some cancers that do not indicate any noticeable symptoms. Pancreatic cancer is one that hardly manifests itself until the later stages making it one of the more challenging cancers to treat as most often it is in an advanced stage when symptoms are detected. Regular check-ups and screenings can help identify those cancers that are in the early stages of growth.

Myth #6: Cancer is only for older people.

Fact: Although cancers tend to skew older in age for many different types, cancer as a whole affects all people regardless of age, gender, or nationality. Living a healthy lifestyle is recommended for people of all ages looking to improve their overall wellness.

Myth #7: Cancer is a death sentence.

Fact: Although cancer is challenging and can lead to death, many cancers respond to therapy and patients can not only live longer lives, but they can also have quality of life. Survival rates continue to improve especially with the advancements in therapies and medicines.

Myth #8: Cancer therapies require disrupting normal life. 

Fact: Many of the treatments and therapies are outpatient. For example, even when patients need to travel to an alternative clinic outside their town, they can schedule things in advance to ensure they have the support of family and friends. Therapies can also be scheduled during the day so they can maintain family life as people return home from school or work.

Myth #9: Cancer always comes back.

Fact: When treating cancers particularly with some conventional methods, there is always a likelihood that cancers can return or that it can affect other cancer growth. However, therapies continue to evolve that target cancers at the root cause which minimizes the probability of reoccurrence.

Myth #10: There is no hope when cancer is Stage IV.

Fact: The fear people have can certainly be elevated when an advanced diagnosis of cancer is given. Oftentimes conventional methods like chemotherapy may not be as effective. In fact, the NIH stated that chemotherapy has a failure rate exceeding 90% when it pertains to stage IV carcinoma cancers. Although this may be the case, patients still have alternative options with have therapies that target the root causes of the disease. It’s important to remain hopeful as you research any alternative therapies to ensure they are backed by evidence based research and data. Many of these therapies can also be individualized for a patient increasing the probability of successful outcomes.

At Dayspring Cancer Clinic, we believe therapies should target cancer and not the patient. We have decades of experience finding modern therapies when conventional approaches don’t seem to work. To learn more about the various tests and therapies we provide, email, or call one of our patient care coordinators today.

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