February 4th is World Cancer Day. As in other diseases, there is misinformation and fiction that sometimes become myths and that is worth clarifying.
According to the World Health Organization, cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally. In the latest 2020 statistics, it was responsible for around 10 million deaths, which is more deaths than those caused by HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Experts estimate that by 2040 cancer deaths will rise to 16.5 million. The idea of creating World Cancer Day is to raise awareness about this disease, since prevention, early detection and treatment can help save lives. Of course, correct information is the first step. To this end, here are some of the myths for you to be on the lookout for.
- If no one in your family has had cancer, you don’t have to worry.
That’s not true. While it is true that some types of cancer develop from damaging cellular mutations (or changes) in genes, only a very small percentage of these changes are inherited. According to the American Cancer Society, only 5% to 10% of cancers are due to inherited mutations, meaning they are passed from parents to children. These are mutations known as hereditary or familial.
- A cancer diagnosis is a death sentence
That’s not true. In the United States, cancer mortality has decreased since 1990. For example, in the most recent annual report, released in March 2020 by the National Cancer Institute, overall cancer death rates decreased from 2001 to 2017, by 1.8% per year among men and 1.4% per year among women, and between 2013 and 2017, 1.4% per year among children 0 to 14 years old.
This decrease is due in part to improvements in treatments. The five-year survival rate for some types of cancer, such as breast, prostate and thyroid cancer, is now 90% better than it was in the 1990s. The average survival rate for all cancers at five years is 67%. And while some things, like rates of smoking (a major cause of cancer), have gone down, other risk factors, like obesity, have gone up in the United States. The population is also aging, and the incidence of cancer increases with age.
Of course, how long a person will live from diagnosis, and whether they will die, depends on the type of cancer, whether it is slow-growing or fast-growing; whether or not it has spread to other parts of the body; whether effective treatments are available; how you respond and the person’s overall health.
- Your attitude determines your risk of recovering from cancer
That’s not true. Whether a person has a positive or negative attitude does not determine their cancer survival. It is normal to feel sad, angry, and temporarily down at initial diagnosis or at certain points in treatment, and upbeat or upbeat at other times. Of course, people who have a positive attitude will tend to be more physically active, have more contact with other people, and that will give them more emotional support. All of this will help you manage your situation in the long run.
- Diet does not contribute to cancer prevention
That’s not true. Although there is no one food that helps prevent cancer, a healthy plant-based diet (that is, a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, etc.) can help prevent cancer, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR).
On the other hand, if you love meat, try to limit red meat, limit processed meats, and go for chicken, fish, and other white meats, which tend to be healthier. Also, try to avoid roasting them at temperatures that are too high (especially when cooking them on the grill). This causes them to release chemicals known as heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are considered carcinogenic.
It is also important to limit the consumption of alcohol, sweetened beverages, refined carbohydrates, and highly processed foods. A Mediterranean, pesco-vegetarian, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, vegan or flexetarian diet, which is healthy, can help you prevent cancer.
- Exercise does not help prevent cancer
That’s not true. Just as diet influences cancer development, there is evidence, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), that physical activity and weight are among the factors that help prevent cancer.
Ideally, the ASC recommends maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding weight gain in adulthood. If you are overweight, it is recommended to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight by staying physically active. Obesity has been associated with an increased development of various types of cancer (such as liver, gallbladder, upper stomach, pancreas, colon and rectum, adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, multiple myeloma, kidney, uterus, ovary, thyroid, and breast in women after menopause).
The ACS specifically recommends that adults get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise, or an equivalent combination. Meeting or exceeding the upper limit is optimal. As for children and adolescents, it recommends that they do at least one hour of moderate to vigorous activity daily. And limit sedentary behavior, such as sitting, lying down, or watching television and other forms of entertainment in front of a screen.
Although the battle against cancer continues, much of your health is in your hands.
Aliza A. Lifshitz, known for her extensive experience in the Hispanic media as Dra. Aliza, is the health expert for the educational television network for the Hispanic community HITN. On HITN she hosts the daily programming block. Life and health, a space where he shares information and tools for Hispanics to lead healthier lives and better communicate with their doctors.
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.