13 Cancer Myths You Can Safely Ignore

CANCER IS A “FIGHT” YOU HAVE TO “WIN”

“Many people think of cancer as a battle that can be won by the most determined and committed patient. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case. Even the patient who follows his oncologist instructions perfectly may succumb to his illness. The image of a boxer knocking out the enemy simply does not happen for many patients. Sometimes, a more realistic goal is to improve the quality of life. Setting small goals for the whole health may be important to monitor progress. The celebration of small achievements can be very significant.” —Ashley Sumrall, MD, FACP, chief, section of neuro-oncology at the Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina

CANCER JUST HAPPENS, THERE IS NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT IT

“Up to 50 percent of all cancers can be prevented through healthy lifestyle choices such as exercise, diet, and avoidance of toxins. I recommend you exercise frequently, even if it is only for a short period each time, and try to keep a routine of being physically active. It is also important to establish healthy eating habits, avoiding excessive sugar, and foods heavily processed and including lots of fruits and vegetables.” —Ted James, MD, MS, FACS, member of the board of directors of the American Cancer Society New England Division

CANCER IS A DISEASE

“In reality, there are hundreds of types of cancers. Each has a unique molecular signature and clinical variable of the expression. In my sub-specialty of neuro-oncology, we have identified at least 120 sub-types of the brain and spinal cord cancer. With an enemy this diversity, our diagnostic and therapeutic approaches must expand.” —Ashley Sumrall, MD

HAVE A “CANCER GENE” MEANS THAT YOU ARE DOOMED TO GET CANCER

“A lot of people who have a genetic mutation associated with an increased risk of cancer think that there is nothing they can do to avoid it, but there are so many complex pathways of our metabolism and our cells. Some of these pathways can activate the genes and some of them can disable them. It is a field called eipgenetics, where the environment and external influences can alter gene expression. This gives the patient power to do things, such as eating a healthy diet and exercise, which can possibly affect their income.” —Dr. Yee

SUPERFOODS CAN PREVENT OR CURE CANCER

“People think that there is a food or a type of food that can solve all your problems of cancer and reduce your risk of cancer, but the evidence is not there. What we see from a point of view of the evidence, it is that it is really that all of the eating habits that makes the difference. Now, there are certainly foods that I think of “super” that are really healthy and rich in nutrients, such as colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy protein sources like fish and beans. We should eat a lot of them—but not with the idea that one of these will prevent cancer.” —Colleen Doyle, MS, RD, director of the active for life for The American Cancer Society

THE CANCER IS HEREDITARY; YOU CAN ONLY GET IT IF IT RUNS IN YOUR FAMILY

“There are familial patterns of inheritance with many forms of cancer, but the most common forms of cancer are often unrelated to genetics. More importantly, even if a cancer is genetic in origin, it does not necessarily mean that you will express that the cancer. The medical field is still not fully understand why some patients will get cancer, while other members of the family with similar genetic and environmental exposure will not be. The take-home message: All people should live their lives as healthy as possible to avoid all disease, which should include your physical and mental health.” —David Poulad, MD, a neurosurgeon and partner at IGEA Brain And spine, specializing in neuro-oncology

CANCER IS A DEATH SENTENCE

“A lot of people think that the cancer is incurable, despite all the money that has been invested in decades of research. But while cancer can be a devastating diagnosis, it is not hopeless. New research in immunotherapy has allowed us to give more patients hope in the management of their disease, and possible to beat it completely.” —David Poulad, MD

SUGAR CAUSES CANCER

“Sugar does not cause cancer, nor does it worsen. The sugar is necessary to support the immune system, which helps fight cancer. The sugar (glucose) in moderation is very good and important in a balanced diet.” —Anton Bilchik, MD, chief of medicine and director of gastrointestinal research at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California

IT IS YOUR FAULT, YOU HAVE CANCER

“Although there are certain life-style factors that influence the risk of cancer, we do not know exactly what is the cause. Once a cancer develops, it is no longer relevant to the way in which you have got it. Do not waste time and energy chiding yourself—shame on you-or for others is completely unnecessary.” —Stephen Marcus, MD, cancer researcher and author of Cancer Complications

HAVING THE SURGERY MAY CAUSE CANCER TO SPREAD OR GROW

“The Cancer is spread through blood or the lymphatic system. The surgery does not increase its potential to spread and most of the time, in fact, decreases it.” —Carla Fisher, MD, assistant professor of surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

DRINKING COFFEE OR TEA CAN REDUCE YOUR RISK OF CANCER

“There has been much research on whether green tea and coffee can have an effect on your risk of cancer. I would say that the jury is still out. We know that antioxidants in fruits and vegetables have a protective effect against cancer; what we don’t really know if the same is the antioxidants in the tea or coffee. I tell people that if you like it then drink it, but from a cancer perspective, we don’t know enough to say, ” If you drink this it will reduce your risk of cancer.’” —Colleen Doyle, MS, RD

YOUR DOCTOR DOESN’T UNDERSTAND YOUR FEARS ABOUT CANCER

“I am an expert in prevention, which treats patients with cancer and at the end of the day, we, as experts, are not different from the average Joe. We worry about cancer and cancer prevention; we are having difficulty with weight control, enough sleep, work-life balance, and the prioritization of the fiscal year. You can tell us something.” —Peter Shields, MD, deputy director, and the cancer prevention researcher at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and the lung oncologist with the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute

IF YOU HAVE CANCER, YOU SHOULD JUST REST AND TAKE IT EASY