To: HEALTH AND NATIONAL EDITORS

By the National Cancer Institute

Editor’s Note: In this article is a part of the monthly Lifelines education and awareness print series that the National Cancer Institute provides to African American news and data outlets.

BETHESDA, Md., April 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — To many, cancer remains probably the most frightening diagnoses in modern medicine. But much of this fear is as a result of the myths that experience circulated for years despite the best information this is available. Indeed, lots of cancer’s mysteries had been solved, and a substantial amount of success have been achieved in curing patients and helping them live longer and higher lives. Notwithstanding advances in cancer treatment and prognosis, many continue to believe in myths surrounding cancer. Especially, studies have shown that African Americans are much more likely than whites to keep up some erroneous beliefs about cancer.

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It is essential to split fact from fiction. Many of the most typical cancer myths not just cultivate false ideas and fears but can interfere with how people think and behave when facing cancer in themselves or in a friend. It’s critical that the health messengers inside the family and community have the main accurate details about cancer. In lots of African American families, this is often the girl running the household. This is good for these health messengers and the folk who take heed to them to not less than understand the various commonest cancer myths in order that misinformation doesn’t stand within the way of having counsel from a doctor.

What Will Happen to Me If i am getting Cancer-

Myth–Cancer is a death sentence. In point of fact that greater than 12 million cancer survivors live within the America. Because of improved treatments and earlier diagnosis of a few cancers, greater than 3 of each 5 cancer patients are alive 5 years after their diagnosis. For youngsters, the 5-year survival rate is 4 in 5.

Who Gets Cancer and Why

Myth–Cancer is contagious. You can’t catch cancer from someone who has it. What can spread among individuals are microorganisms (viruses and bacteria), and some of those may cause cancer.

Myth–If a parent or close loved one had cancer, you could inherit it. Cancer develops when genes change in certain ways, but all these changes occur later in life and aren’t inherited. But some cancer-causing gene changes are inherited, so if a undeniable cancer seems to run on your family it is very important discuss this with a health care provider.

Myth–People get cancer from . . . (just fill within the blank as to what you’ve heard). Scientists are continuously doing research to ascertain whether particular natural or manmade substances cause cancer. Research shows that the next should not more likely to cause cancer: mobile phones, microwaves, fluoridated water, hair dyes, deodorants, sugar, artificial sweeteners like saccharin and aspartame, and coffee-frequency magnetic fields produced by power lines and household electric appliances.

What You are able to do About It

Myth–You don’t have any control over your individual cancer risk. Although scientists haven’t discovered tips on how to completely prevent cancer, there are stuff you can do to minimize your risk of certain cancers. As an example:

    --  Not smoking or quitting smoking greatly reduces your risk of         developing and dying from lung cancer.     --  Maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active cuts         your risk of several cancers.     --  HPV vaccines prevent infection with the virus that causes most         cervical cancers. And regular cervical cancer screening detects         most cervical abnormalities with a purpose to be treated before         they become cancer.     --  Colorectal cancer screening reduces the chance of developing and         dying from colorectal cancer.     --  For ladies age 40 and older, getting regular mammograms reduces         the likelihood of dying from breast cancer. 

Myth–Your attitudes and ideology should help beat cancer. Unfortunately, despite many studies, this seems to be a myth. But a favorable attitude may improve the standard of your life during and after treatment. Lots of people say that specializing in the fun in life and things that they are able to control helped them get through cancer treatment. Spending time with friends and family, playing hobbies and activities when possible, and enjoying the little things in life should help one better manage the stresses and worries of cancer.

These are just the various false and misleading ideas that will confuse and mislead people concerning the progress being made in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. You could learn more from NCI about cancer prevention and screening.

NCI leads the National Cancer Program and the NIH effort to dramatically reduce the load of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the advance of latest interventions, and the educational and mentoring of latest researchers. For more info about cancer, please visit the NCI site at www.cancer.gov or call NCI’s Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). More articles and videos within the culturally relevant Lifelines series can be found at www.cancer.gov/lifelines.

SOURCE National Cancer Institute

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