It’s 2pm, so I have to leave; I promised Mrs Richards that I will pick up the children from swimming lessons and that they will be home before 3pm, but watching Mrs Bello dance with her newly wedded daughter was such a beautiful sight to behold. I wouldn’t want to miss such good ending stories.  Mrs Bello is a breast cancer survivor. We met seven years ago, ummh tough cookie she was. She was so sure that her village people were responsible for this evil ailment and was ready to fight back in the unconventional way.
Orthodox medicine won’t solve this dreadful matter; It was a spiritual matter that needed spiritual solution she vehemently lamented.
After persistent individual and family psychotherapy and counseling, the medical team prevailed and she agreed to have orthodox treatment. Did the medical team ask her to do away with faith and belief? Definitely Not!
Faith therapy is very important. We advise that cancer care is holistic, that faith and belief are integral part of recovery and survivorship.

How many people suffer from this misinformation, misconception and cancer myth? Let’s help Debunk it!

1. Is cancer treatment spiritual?

Relationship between cancer and spirituality is different for everybody. Cancer may weaken one’s spirituality or strengthen someone’s else. Spirituality can be defined as an individual’s sense of peace, purpose, connection to others and beliefs about meaning of life. Empirical evidence has shown over the years that cancer patients who are treated by orthodox treatment and still embrace their spiritually do far better than those that don’t. However, substituting orthodox cancer treatment for spirituality as the only means of treatment will eventually be detrimental to the health and well being as studies have also shown. Hence embrace spirituality as a complementary/supplementary treatment  BUT NOT as a substitute for the conventional orthodox treatment for cancer is the way to go.

2. Is cancer a death sentence?

The likelihood of dying from cancer has dropped steadily globally since 1990s. Five year survival rates for all cancers combined is currently about 67% and about 90% or even better for some types of cancer such as Breast and Prostate cancer. It is important to note, that whether a person will die from a disease depends on many factors such as stage at presentation, overall health, affordability, assessability and availability of effective treatment.

3. Does a person’s attitude affect the risk of developing cancer or likely recovery from cancer?

There is no convincing scientific evidence that links a person’s attitude; positive or negative to risk of developing or dying from cancer. However, people with positive attitude are most likely to maintain healthy lifestyle, good social relationship and emotional support which all help to cope better with cancer.

4.  Is cancer contagious? 

Cancer is not a contagious disease.  It doesn’t spread from person to person; the only situation that a spread can occur is in the case of tissue or organ transplantation and the risk is very low, much more doctors avoid the use of tissue/organs from donors who have a history of cancer. Certain viruses such as some sub types of Human papilloma virus (HPV) and bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori can cause some cancers. However, while the viruses or bacteria can spread from person to person; the cancer caused by these organisms cannot spread from person to person.

5.  Does surgery or biopsy cause cancer to spread?

The chances that surgery or biopsy (incisional or excisional) to remove tumours can spread cancer to other parts of the body is extremely low because following standard procedures, surgeons use special methods and steps to prevent cancer cells from spreading during biopsy or surgery.

6. Wiĺl I have cancer because someone in my family is diagnosed with cancer?

Having someone diagnosed with cancer in a family doesn’t necessarily mean that other members of the family will have cancer. Only 5 to 10 percent of cancers are inherited (inherited mutated genes) from a person’s parents. The remaining 90-95 percent of cancers happen during a person’s lifetime as a result of aging and exposure to harmful environmental factors such as tobacco smoke.

7. Am I risk-free because no one has cancer in my family?

Having no family history of cancer does not make the person risk free. 90-95 percent of cancers are not hereditary. Generic mutations which lead to cancer can occur as a result of aging, unhealthy lifestyle and exposure to harmful environmental factors throughout a person’s lifetime. Hence, regular annual screening and prevention should be done at the appropriate recommended age for different cancer types.

8. Are Government, Pharmaceutical Industries and Cancer charities groups hoarding the cure for cancer?

Several rumours have been raised that the government, agencies, cancer NGOs and Pharmaceutical industries have the cure for cancer, however, they are not telling the public and denying cure out of self-interest.
Scientists and researchers have made significant progress in the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer but it’s most UNLIKELY that there will ever be one cure for over 200 different types of cancer. Therefore, the conspiracy theory of hoarding cure is not true.

9. Does sugar make cancer spread?

Some researches have shown that cancer cells consume more sugar ( glucose) than normal cells. However, no scientific evidence shows that eating sugar will make cancer worse or that not eating sugar will make cancer disappear.
It is important to note, however, that high sugar diet may contribute to weight gain and obesity which is associated with the risk of developing several types of cancers. This is as a result of chronic low levels of inflammation seen in obese people which can over time cause DNA damage that leads to cancer and adipose tissues producing excess levels of estrogens, high levels of which have been associated with increased risk of breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer.
Having a well-balanced diet and reducing sugar intake to the minimum level as much as one can is the way to go.

10. Are there herbal products available that can cure cancer?

No herbal products have been shown to be effective for treating cancer. Some of them may be harmful by interacting and interrupting with the conventional treatment or when taken in large amounts can be poisonous such as cyanide poisoning from consumption of large amounts of apricot kernels. Some herbal products which are taken as supplements may help if it’s content are certified to be safe and beneficial.

11. Do cell phones cause cancer?

According to the best studies completed thus far, cell phones or cell phone towers (base stations) does not and cannot cause cancer. There is no scientific evidence yet that supports a link between cell phone usage and development of cancer.
The explanation is this, cell phones work by sending signals and receiving signals from nearby cell phone towers using  Radiofrequency waves which is a form of energy in the electromagnetic spectrum between FM radio waves and microwaves. These are all forms of non-ionizing radiation which means that they do not have enough energy to ionize atoms or molecules and cannot directly damage  DNA inside the cells which may lead to genetic mutations and eventually cancer.
At high levels, Radiofrequency may heat up the body tissues (this is the basis of how microwaves work) but the levels of energy given off by cell phones are much lower, hence cannot raise the temperature in the body or cause DNA damage in cells.
It’s important to note, since cellular phones are radio emitting device, general precautions should still be taken, such as;
  1. Limit the amount of time spent on the phone.
  2. Use speaker mode on the phone or handheld devices such as corded or cordless earpiece.
  3. Limit the amount of cell phone traffic in an area at a time. Higher traffic may require more energy to get a good signal.

12.  Do microwave ovens cause cancer?

Microwave ovens use microwaves radiation (a form of non-ionizing radiation which does not have sufficient energy to cause DNA damage in cells) to heat food but these does not mean they make the food Radioactive.

13.  Do hair dyes increase the risk of having cancer?

There is no convincing scientific evidence that links the personal use of hair dyes with increased risk of cancer.
It’s important to note, however, that some studies suggest that barbers and hairdressers who are regularly exposed to larger quantities of hair dyes and other chemicals products have increased risk of bladder cancer.

14. Do anti perspirants or deodorants increase the risk of having cancer?

Anti perspirants and deodorants don’t cause cancer. There is no scientific evidence linking chemicals used in them with changes in breast tissues.
When buying cosmetics; products with SPF (sun protective factor) 30+ and 50+ are advised.

15. Can drinking water from plastic drink bottles cause cancer?

Drinking water from plastic drink bottle does not cause cancer.
However detailed attention should be given to hygiene and proper storage in cool environments.

16. Can wearing bras to bed cause cancer?

Some rumours have it that wearing bras to bed can cause cancer because the under wire of the bras obstruct lymph flow.
There is no scientific evidence to back up this idea, it is therefore false and one of the cancer myths/ misconception/misinformation.
However, wearing tight under wears such as bras with under wires to bed can cause some discomfort. Hence it’s advisable to wear loose clothes to sleep at night.

Author’s Brief Profile:

Dr Foluke Sarimiye is a Radiation/Clinical Oncologist and Executive Director of Patela Care Foundation.