LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — When an idea or belief takes off in popularity, especially online, it can lead people to believe it as fact even when it's not and lead to misconceptions.
We asked a cancer surgeon at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, to break down some common myths about a disease that can affect almost anyone.
Dr. Thomas Kang is one of many surgeons who dedicate their careers to preventing and treating one of the deadliest diseases known to man; cancer.
“It’s not something that anybody wants to hear, and it is a very vulnerable time for our patients," Dr. Kang said. "It’s so important for patients to understand that whenever they come to our clinic, we have a plan for them. We will have a plan for them and a way to help them."
We asked Dr. Kang to address some myths associated with cancer, based on a newly released article by The National Cancer Institute.
The first myth asks: “Is cancer a death sentence?”
“Speaking, just strictly from a surgical standpoint, cancer in general, and for most people, is not necessarily a death sentence," he clarified.
Dr. Kang said that advances in treatments are rapidly arriving and he looks forward to seeing continued advances in his field of expertise, colorectal cancer.
The second myth is this: “Will eating sugar make my cancer worse?”
“Common sense dictates that having too much sugar, like drinking, say, two to three sodas a day, is probably not as good as, say, maybe choosing water over those beverages, but sugar, in and of itself, does not cause your cancer to grow or spread to other places," Dr. Kang said.
The next myth has only been around for the last few decades: “Do cell phones cause cancer?”
Dr. Kang explained that in all likelihood, the answer is no.
“There are cell phone towers all around. There's, you know, electric magnetic fields, right? So I think people maybe get concerned about that. But you know, if there is even a risk of that, I think it's probably minuscule and no definitive, solid evidence to support that cell phones actually cause cancer," he added.
Another myth relates to homeopathic treatments: “Are there herbal products that can cure cancer?”
“Generally, no," Dr. Kang said. “I think for most people, we take multivitamins, right? Can vitamins cure cancer? No, but we know that having a sufficient level of micronutrients like vitamins or minerals can help the body function."
Finally: “Do cancers act the same way in everyone?”
Dr. Kang said that while there is a wealth of knowledge and studies on cancer characteristics, he looks at each patient he sees, as an individual.
“Everybody is different. And whenever I meet with my patients who have the cancer diagnosis, I try to come up with an individualized plan, right? And it needs to really address not just their cancer treatment needs, but their socioeconomic and spiritual needs, and their physical needs. Because not everyone can undergo or tolerate the same kinds of treatments," he said.