There is a lot of wrong information on the internet or social media about cancer, which is defined as the disease of the age. This false information that spreads from ear to ear during the fight against cancer can also negatively affect the treatment process. Prof. from Memorial Ataşehir and Service Hospitals Department of General Surgery and Breast and Endocrine Surgery. Dr. Bülent Çitgez gave information about the misconceptions about cancer before the “February 4 World Cancer Day”.
1-Is cancer contagious?
False! Cancer is not a contagious disease. Since cancer is not caused by bacteria or viruses, it is not transmitted from person to person through air or contact.
2-Can cancer occurs without symptoms?
False! Not all tumors and not all cancers develop in the same way. Because some types of cancer are immediately on the surface of the body, they can show symptoms even at a very early stage. Especially in breast, testis, lymph nodes or soft tissue tumors, swelling under the skin may be the first symptoms. However, tumors that form inside the body, such as the lungs, or in the intra-abdominal region can occur in advanced stages. For this reason, annual routine controls are of vital importance for early diagnosis.
3-Does mammography cause breast cancer?
False! Although there is a belief among the public that mammography can cause breast cancer, there is no such information in the medical literature. In many scientific studies, there is no information that mammography triggers or prepares the ground for cancer. On the contrary, breast cancer is detected at an early stage by routine mammography examination.
4-Does the biopsy cause the cancer to spread?
False! This information about cancer and biopsy also does not reflect the truth. A biopsy does not cause the cancer to spread. Even if this false information is thought to be true, since cancer treatment will be started immediately after the biopsy, there will not even be an opportunity for the cancer to spread.
5- “If there is no cancer patient in my family, I am not at risk”
False! Some types of cancer can be inherited. However, if we start with the example of breast cancer, the majority of patients are people who do not have cancer in their family. For this reason, it is not true that people who do not have cancer in their family will not have cancer. However, people with a family history of cancer should be more careful in terms of cancer. For this reason, it is important not to neglect routine health checks.
6- “Men do not have breast cancer”
False! Breast cancer cases are also seen in men. The male breast cancer rate is much lower than that of women. For every 100 female breast cancer, there is 1 male breast cancer case.
7- “Herbal supplements are more effective than chemotherapy”
False! Scientific studies show that there is no benefit to using herbal products instead of chemotherapy. Patients can use herbal products such as turmeric, propolis, black seed oil, which are used to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy due to their antioxidant properties. However, plants used for support purposes can reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs. For this reason, it should be kept in mind that it may cause drug interaction, decrease the effectiveness of chemotherapy or increase its side effects as a result of its use with chemotherapy, and it should not be used together during the chemotherapy process.
8- “I have breast cancer, I will lose my breast”
False! Today, breast-conserving surgery comes to the fore in breast cancer surgeries. Thanks to the developing technology and chemotherapy methods, breast-conserving surgery can be applied even to advanced stage breast cancers. In advanced breast cancers, chemotherapy treatments are applied to reduce the stage, and then breast preservation surgery can be performed. Even in diffuse tumors in the breast, the breast can be protected by surgical methods called Subcutaneous Mastectomy, in which the inside of the breast is emptied and silicone is placed.
9- “The cancer will come back even if I have treatment”
False! The success rate increases in patients who are diagnosed and treated at an early stage. The risk of cancer, especially after 5 years of treatment, is almost the same as in people who have never had cancer. However, while there is a risk of cancer even in people who have never had cancer before, it is also known that people with a history of cancer have a higher risk.
10- “Breastfeeding women do not get breast cancer”
False! Unfortunately, breast cancer can develop anywhere there is a breast. Breast cancer risk is reduced in lactating women due to hormonal conditions. A reduced risk does not mean that breastfeeding women will not get breast cancer. For this reason, regardless of the period, in the presence of a mass in the breast, a specialist should be consulted without wasting time.
Source: (BYZHA) – Beyaz News Agency
