Cancer is the most dreaded among all diseases, and there are also some myths surrounding the disease that can lead the patient, and also family members, astray. Dr. Vikesh Shah is among the top doctors in Ahmedabad dealing with cancer and points towards the availability of correct information to make the right treatment decision. With years of experience, particularly in immunotherapy, Dr. Vikesh Shah has helped numerous patients by clearing the myths from their minds and guiding them toward the correct treatment.
In this article, we have talked about some of the most common myths of cancer treatment and what top cancer specialists in Ahmedabad, who have made a career out of providing the best possible treatment to their patients, have to say on the subject. By dispelling such myths, we hope to enlighten people so that they can make well-informed choices about their health and therapy.
Myth 1: Cancer is Always a Death Sentence
The oldest and most fatal myth may be the one that presumes that a cancer diagnosis is a death warrant. Cancer is an illness, but not necessarily a killer. Thanks to the medical sciences, cancers can be cured, and the survival rates are higher than before.
According to the American Cancer Society, the survival rate for all cancers is around 69%, and for some cancers like breast, prostate, and thyroid cancer, the rate is more than 90%. The detection at an early stage and the treatment play a crucial role in survival. The patients don’t need to lose hope during diagnosis, but should meet with an efficient doctor of cancer in Ahmedabad to have a proper treatment plan.
Myth 2: Treatment of Cancer is Worse Than the Disease
People think that the treatment of cancer, such as chemotherapy and radiation, is worse than the disease. Regardless of the side effects of the treatments, the treatments are most crucial in treating the disease.
Medication technologies today ensure there are fewer side effects and that targeted treatments are improved. Additionally, doctors today utilize more personalized forms of treatment for a patient’s unique illnesses, and they get the best available and least invasive treatment.
Side effects such as hair loss, tiredness, and nausea are reversible and can usually be managed by medicine and diet changes. The notion is that the treatment for cancer works and that it saves lives, and the good outweighs the temporary loss of side effects.
Myth 3: Chemotherapy Always Leads to Hair Loss
While hair loss is a side effect of most chemotherapy medicines, not all chemotherapy causes hair loss. The degree of hair loss depends on the type and dose of chemotherapy medicine received.
Several of the newer agents, like targeted therapy and immunotherapy, are not causing hair loss at all. Additionally, cold cap therapy/scalp cooling is also in the pipeline to reduce hair loss in chemotherapy-treated cancer patients.
The patient should not be excluded from chemotherapy because of fear of hair loss. They need to be well and fight the cancer.
Myth 4: Sugar Feeds Cancer Cells
One of the most common myths surrounding cancer is that consuming sugar causes cancer to grow. While it is a fact that cancer cells metabolize greater amounts of glucose than normal cells do, there is no scientific evidence that shows that consuming sugar will make cancer grow any faster. However, too much sugar consumption makes one obese, and obesity is itself a risk factor in the causation of many cancers. Instead of not consuming sugar at all, eat a nutritious diet of nutrient-dense food that ensures overall health and proper immune system function.
Myth 5: Surgery and Biopsies Spread Cancer
Most people think that a biopsy or a tumor-removing surgery will spread the cancer. Scientifically, no proof exists.
Physicians during a biopsy follow medical protocols not to seed or scatter cancer cells throughout the whole body. Similarly, surgeries are done with precision not to remove tumors but to spread metastasis.
Delay or avoidance of surgery due to this myth is going to make cancer advance, and thus treatment will be complicated. If the doctor recommends surgery, the patients must believe in their professionalism and proceed without fear.
Myth 6: Alternative Medicine Can Cure Cancer
The majority of the patients opt for alternative therapies like herbal medicine, diet therapy, and homeopathy because they believe that they can treat cancer. Although some of the alternative therapies are useful in symptom control and improving quality of life, they cannot be used as substitutes for conventional cancer therapies like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy.
Numerous studies have proven that patients on complementary therapies alone have worse survival rates compared to patients on evidence-based medical therapy. Patients should see their oncologist if they plan on using any complementary therapy due to fear of being off the standard practice.
Myth 7: Cancer is Contagious
It is false that cancer is an infectious disease and can be passed from person to person as in a viral or bacterial infection.
Cancer is caused by a mutation in one’s body cells due to genetics and is not caught through touch, eating together, or physical contact with others. Certain viruses, such as HPV (human papillomavirus) and hepatitis B & C viruses, but not the influenza-causing virus, however, are cancer-developmental risk factors. Immunization with these viruses prevents cancer development.
Myth 8: A Positive Attitude Will Cure Cancer
Having a positive attitude is important for mental and emotional well-being, but it will never cure cancer.
Positive thinking can help cope with the patient’s treatment, but it must never be used as an alternative for medical treatment. Cancer is a complex disease and requires medical intervention, and bypassing traditional treatments with the power of positive thinking can be life-threatening.
Myth 9: Young People Don’t Get Cancer
Cancer has long been considered to occur in older individuals, and it is for this reason that other people assume that young individuals cannot develop cancer. Cancer still affects individuals of all ages, from children to young adults.
Some forms of cancer, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and testicular cancer, happen more frequently in younger individuals. People of any age group must remain alert to cancer signs, get frequent check-ups, and follow preventive measures.
Myth 10: Cancer Will Always Return After Treatment
It is not true that all cancers come back after treatment. Most are fully curable if caught early and treated accordingly.
Following treatment and aftercare also decreases the chances of recurrence by a large percentage. New developments in targeted therapy and immunotherapy also provide improved long-term survival to the majority of patients with cancer.
Insights from Ahmedabad Cancer Specialists
Ahmedabad veteran oncologists point out early diagnosis, timely treatment, and science-backed practices as improvement avenues in results. They suggest the patient refrain from going outdoors to gather unchecked information but otherwise take professional medical advice.
The oncologists in Ahmedabad also advise the patient to undergo routine screening tests, lead a healthy lifestyle, and become well-informed about the treatment areas. The remarks from their end are of crucial importance for leading the patient towards healthy, sound decisions.
Conclusion
Misconceptions about cancer treatment can be devastating. By excluding the common myths, people will make an informed decision and undergo cancer treatment in a confident and informed manner.
Patients must never attribute cancer myths and instead approach a veteran expert in cancer at Ahmedabad instead of attributing myths and myths. Accurate facts about the healing of cancer not only dispel unsubstantiated fear but also lead to early detection and successful treatment and indeed save lives.
If you or your friend is suffering from cancer, consult the best immunotherapy doctor in India, like Dr. Vikesh Shah, and follow an evidence-based treatment process to achieve the best outcome.