4 common misconceptions about cancer

Many people think that cancer patients shouldn't have surgery because it will cause the disease to progress faster; in reality, surgery is the most basic treatment option when it's still possible to operate on it.

Getting cancer is due to "sins committed in a past life".

Many people believe that getting cancer is due to some "sin from a previous life," and they must suffer the consequences now. According to Professor Nguyen Ba Duc, former Director of K Hospital (Hanoi), most cancers are caused by unsanitary living environments and lifestyles. Cancer is not caused by a single factor but by many factors, depending on the type. Among them, smoking and an unhealthy diet are two of the most common causes of various types of cancer.

Smoking is the cause of 30% of all cancers (such as lung, larynx, bladder, and stomach cancer). Cigarette smoke contains not only nicotine, which affects the cardiovascular system, but also over 40 different carcinogenic chemicals. Among these toxins, benzopyrene is a 100% carcinogen.

Chemical preservatives, food colorings, metabolic intermediates, and substances produced from moldy or fermented foods cause many types of gastrointestinal cancers such as stomach, liver, and colon cancer. Rice and peanuts are easily contaminated by the mold Aspergillus flavus, which secretes aflatoxin, a toxin that causes primary liver cancer.

Alcohol is a cause of oral, throat, laryngeal, and breast cancers. Liver cancer is the third most common type of cancer in men, after lung and stomach cancer, primarily due to cirrhosis caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

Cancer is incurable.

In countries with developed healthcare systems, 50% of cancer patients are cured thanks to early detection. In our country, the cure rate is low because 80% of patients are diagnosed late. Many people believe in unscientific treatments, quacks, superstitions, etc., and only go to the hospital when the disease is too severe, by which time it is too late.

Many people believe that "cancer means death, a death sentence." The truth is, most cancers are treatable. Cancer is a dangerous disease, but one-third are preventable, one-third are curable (in the early stages), and one-third allow for extended life (in the later stages).

If you have cancer, you shouldn't undergo surgery.

Many people believe that cancer shouldn't be treated with surgery because it only makes the tumor spread faster. Professor Duc asserts that this is a misconception; surgery is the fundamental method for treating cancer when it is still surgically treatable. When the disease is detected in an early stage, surgery should be performed in cases where it is possible, and if not, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a harmonious combination of these three methods should be used. Surgery is most effective when the tumor has not metastasized to other areas.

If the disease is detected in the early stages, the chance of a cure is up to 80%; in stage 2, the survival rate is 60%. If the disease reaches stage 4, medical interventions can only prolong life and reduce pain, but cannot cure it.

People with cancer should fast.

Many people believe that cancer patients should only receive nutritional support during radiation therapy and chemotherapy; after treatment, they should eat brown rice and sesame seeds to keep their bodies thin and prevent them from nourishing the tumor, thus causing it to shrink. This belief negatively impacts treatment effectiveness, reduces patient lifespan, increases the rate of complications and infections, and ultimately leads to death.

In fact, a complete and balanced diet with sufficient nutrients before, during, and after treatment helps patients improve their physical strength, have enough energy to complete the treatment course, and reduce side effects caused by the treatment. Patients should have a reasonable diet including plenty of vegetables, fruits, and yogurt, avoiding foods high in protein, sugar, and lipids; abstaining from spicy and hot foods, stimulants; and engaging in appropriate physical exercise.

According to VNE