It has been estimated that, in the country alone, there might approximately be 1,762,450 new cancer cases diagnosed in 2019 itself. The incidence of cancer has increased over the decades and so have the myths surrounding cancer treatments. In the case of cancer treatments, misconceptions prevent the patient from receiving appropriate medical care that could help them fight the disease. In the following, we probe into a few myths about common cancer treatments to provide better clarity on the subject.

1. Myth: Treatment is compulsory and common for people having cancer
Truth: While undergoing treatment for cancer is entirely the patient’s personal choice, doctors, family, and friends can discuss the positive and negative aspects of the treatment. Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer can decide if they want treatment based on how aggressively the cancer is developing. When the tumor is small and relatively slow in its growth, a wait-and-watch approach to whether and when treatment can start can be considered as an option.

2. Myth: Performing a biopsy or surgery helps cancer metastasize
Truth: Amongst millions of biopsies and surgeries that have been done, very rarely are there a couple of cases that have resulted in cancer spreading to other organs in the body. Performing a fine-needle aspiration to remove sample tissues from a tumor or surgical biopsy to remove the malignant tumor does not always result in cancer proliferating. What this procedure does is help doctors to either detect the presence of cancer cells or identify the stage of cancer more efficiently. The results gathered from a biopsy enables doctors to assess which treatments might help cure or control cancer and also helps in the prognosis of the disease. Most times, doing a biopsy increases survival rates and helps patients enjoy a better quality of life.

3. Myth: Cancer treatment is the same for all patients
Truth: There are quite a few conventional, complementary, and alternative treatment options for managing cancer. However, the treatment option chosen depends on many factors like the health of the patient at the time of diagnosis, the stage of cancer, how aggressively it is growing, how it is affecting the functioning of the other organs in the body, and the goal of the cancer treatment (Whether the treatment is aimed at curing cancer (possible in the initial stage) or at controlling the disease? Or is the treatment aimed at palliative care in its advanced stage?). Therefore, no common cancer treatment is chosen for all patients. It is normally tailor-made to suit every individual suffering from cancer. Based on their threshold for pain, their genetic makeup, how their body responds to each type of treatment, and what their socio-economic conditions and support are some of the guidelines that can help in determining the treatment approach suitable for every patient with cancer.

When cancer is in an advanced stage or does not respond to any treatment, then the goal would be to provide comfort and relief for the patient to live with the disease. Easing the symptoms and physical and mental stress then becomes the main intention to enhance the quality of life.