5 common myths about cancer (with video)

Published On: February 5, 2019 07:00 PM NPT By: Bipana Thapa

KATHMANDU, Feb 5: Around 30 to 50% of cancers can be treated if diagnosed early.

But there are misconceptions that bar cancer patients from reaching hospitals at an early stage.

The misconceptions are fatal.

Dr. Rashmey Pun Gurung from National Hospital & Cancer Research Center busts some common myths about cancer in Nepal.

Cancer: a disease/condition caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in different parts of the body.

5 Common myths

Cancer is a death sentence

Regular health check-ups and cancer screenings play an important role in curing cancer. Improvement in eating habits, regular physical exercise, and surgical procedures help a patient to get rid of it.

Cancer is contagious

Generally, cancer is not contagious. Only when transplanting some organs from a cancer patient might spread or cause cancer but it is also a very negligible count.

If you have a family history of cancer, you are likely to get cancer

Children of the parents having cancer following necessary tips like taking healthy diet, regular physical exercise and protecting oneself from various radiations, the chance of getting the cancer is low.

Biopsy spreads cancer in other parts of the body

Spreading cancer to other parts of the body after a biopsy is extremely low. Surgeons follow standard procedures with careful use of surgical tools.

Surgery alone is the optimum treatment for cancer

Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy play an equal role for the optimum treatment for cancer. Some patients normally think that their treatment for cancer is over after the surgical operation while both the therapies are equally important for the complete treatment.