Cancer, diabetes, heart diseases and stroke--some of the biggest health slayers that the world is currently fighting. What adds to the misery though, is that full treatment for a disease like cancer (well, most types of cancers) is still not prevalent.
Celebrating #WorldCancerDay today, we need to spread awareness about the preventive measures one can take from the very beginning, in order to keep the life-threatening disease at bay. But first, let us give you a low-down on the most baffling misconceptions about this lethal disease and why we must wipe them out without delay.
Dr. Pawan Gupta, Additional Director, Surgical Oncology, Jaypee Hospital, Noida told us, "Cancer is not a killer. What kills is carelessness and ignorance, delayed diagnosis and denied or wrong treatment. The only thing that can change the prognosis of a cancer patient is early diagnosis and awareness."
Furthermore, he shared these common myths about the disease.
Celebrating #WorldCancerDay today, we need to spread awareness about the preventive measures one can take from the very beginning, in order to keep the life-threatening disease at bay. But first, let us give you a low-down on the most baffling misconceptions about this lethal disease and why we must wipe them out without delay.
Dr. Pawan Gupta, Additional Director, Surgical Oncology, Jaypee Hospital, Noida told us, "Cancer is not a killer. What kills is carelessness and ignorance, delayed diagnosis and denied or wrong treatment. The only thing that can change the prognosis of a cancer patient is early diagnosis and awareness."
Furthermore, he shared these common myths about the disease.
- Cancer means death: One of the most commonly used lines for cancer is that it directly, clearly, strongly refers to death. However, cancer, if detected and diagnosed at an early stage, can be treated. While doctors have not yet found a foolproof cure for all types of cancers, some of the forms of cancer are treatable and can be controlled even at advanced stages.
- Cancer mutilates the whole body: Organ preservation with functional rehabilitation is possible for cancer. The new modalities and advancement in surgeries have made it possible. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are equally sound measures to add quality years to a patient's life.
- Cancer is painful from the start: Most cancers are present in the body as painless lumps or in the form of ulcers. Cancer is painful in the advanced stages when it invades the local tissues or nerves. One needs to be careful about any such new formation of lumps in any part of the body, which, when unattended, may result in tumours.
- Cancer is contagious: Cancer is not an infection; it develops from the cells within our body. It cannot spread from one person to another by touch or contact. Cancer patients should be allowed to live a normal life and isolation is something that needs to be given extra importance because in most cases, living a life in depression may add to the patient's cause of death.
- Cancer is better treated by alternative medicine: One should aim for an evidence-based treatment. It is often recommended to get proper medical assistance and treatment tests done before reaching any such conclusions. No alternative medicine has been proved effective in treating cancer till date.
- Tumour biopsy spreads cancer: There are very less chances that a cancer can spread to other body parts from biopsy. Surgeons follow a standard procedure and a multi-pronged approach to avoid the spread of cancer cells during biopsy.
source:India Today
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