Quality Health in association with Gleneagles Global Cancer Centre (G2C2) conducted a Cancer Awareness Talk on the occasion of World Cancer Day @ World Bank Group, Taramani. Dr S Balaji Subramanian, Consultant Radiation Oncologist, Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai spoke about Common Myths and Misconceptions regarding the disease. There was also an interactive Q & A session at the program.

 

Photos taken at the Event

Please take few minutes to know about Some Common Myths and Misconceptions of CANCER with Interactive Question and Answers

 

Question 1

There is evidence that Mobile phones can give you brain cancer 

A TRUE
B FALSE

Answer
B = FALSE

So far, most studies have found no sufficient evidence to link mobile phones use and brain cancer.

Question 2

Cancer can be caused by a knock or a bruise 

A TRUE
B FALSE
•IN SOME CASES

Answer
B = FALSE

Cancer Research survey, up to 40% of the people questioned mistakenly  believed that if men bruise their testicles or women their breasts it could trigger the disease. But injuries such as bruises, cuts, or broken bones cannot cause cancer.

Question 3

What % of cancer patients with pain are likely to become addicted to morphine and other strong painkillers?
 
A. Less than 1%
B. 11%
C. 23%

Answer
A = Less than 1%

What most people mean by this is, 'Will I become hooked and unable to stop the morphine, even if I no longer need it for pain control?'

The answer is a definite 'No!' Over the years, we have treated several thousand cancer patients with morphine. We have never had trouble stopping treatment because of 'addiction'. People who need strong painkillers to control their pain do not become addicted to their medications, and they do not usually cause any harm

 

Question 4

InOpinion Poll. How many men and women wrongly  believe that you can catch cancer itself from somebody who has the disease

A.50% men30% women
B.30% men20% women
C.25% men20% women

Answer
A = 50% men 30% women

 

Question 5

Lung cancer is just a smoker’s disease.

A TRUE
B FALSE

Answer
B = FALSE 

Although the major risk factor of lung cancer is smoking, around one in six people with lung cancer have never smoked

 

Question 6

How many cancers couldadopting a healthy lifestyle prevent? 

A None 
B 10-20% of cancers 
C 33%
D 50% of all cancers 

Answer
D = 50% of all cancers

 

Question 7

You have less chance of developing lung cancer if you  smoke low tar cigarettes rather than high tar ones.

A TRUE
B FALSE

Answer
B = FALSE.

Still exposed to over 4000 chemicals and often these people inhale more deeply

 

Question 8

You are more likely to suffer long term effects from drinking and have an increased risk of developing some cancers if you.

A.Binge drink alcohol
B.Drink alcohol every day
C.Just drink at the weekends

Answer
B = Drink alcohol every day

 

Question 9

Regularly eating meat cooked on a charcoal grill can increase your risk for cancer.

A.TRUE
B.FALSE

Answer
A = TRUE

 

Question 10

Living in a polluted city is a greater risk for lung cancer  than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day

A.TRUE
B.FALSE

Answer
B = FALSE

 

Question 11

What are the main risk factors for cancer of the Bowel

A. Smoking and diet
B. Smoking and Obesity
C. Alcohol, obesity, family history, diet
D. Family history, diet and obesity

Answer
C = Alcohol, obesity, family history, diet

 

Question 13

What are the main risk factors for oral cancers

A. Smoking, Alcohol, poor diet / nutrition
B. Smoking and alcohol
C. Smoking, diet / nutrition 

Answer
A = Smoking, Alcohol, poor diet / nutrition

 

Question 14

Over 99% of cervical cancers are caused by exposure to a  virus

A. TRUE
B.FALSE

Answer
A = TRUE- Human Papillomavirus

HPV the facts RCN 2006 TYPES 16 AND 18 cause 70% of cancers the other types cause around 30%. There is a new vaccine for 12 and 13 year olds with a catch up programme for older girls

 

Question 15

How many children under the age of 15 develops cancer?

A. 1 in 500
B. 1 in 1000
C. 1 in 1500

Answer
A = 1 in 500

Risk Factors

• Occupational And Environmental Factors: Asbetos, Ni, chromate, Benzene, Arseate, Coal tar
• Social And Psychological Factors: Stress- Immune supression 
• Chemicals In Foods: Nitrosamine, Pesticide, Herbicides
• Viral Factors: HPV, EBV, H.Pylori

Cancer’s Seven Warning Signals

The earlier the diagnosis the better the prospect for survival

HOPE

• Remove less surrounding tissue during surgery
• Organ preserving (e.g. Breast, Larynx, Rectum)
• Combine surgery with High precision radiation or chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Cancer-fighting vaccines
• Gene therapy
• Radiosurgery
• Stem cell research

Credits: Gleneagles Global Cancer Centre (G2C2)