Myth: Cancer is an incurable disease?

There has now been significant progress in cancer treatment, and complete cure is becoming a reality for many patients. Although there are several factors that influence the success of treatment, including the type and stage of cancer, the age and general condition of the patient, and the timeliness of diagnosis, modern therapies such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, immunotherapy and molecularly targeted drugs, significantly improve the prognosis and likelihood of full recovery.

It is important to note that each case of cancer is unique, and treatment results may vary depending on many factors. Despite this, the myth that cancer is incurable is not true.

Myth: Cancer is an accident

Although cancer can in some cases be caused by random genetic mutations, in most cases lifestyle choices have a significant impact on the risk of the disease. Inherited genetic changes may be the cause of cancer in approximately 10% of cases, and in some types of breast cancer this percentage is as high as 20%.

For example, mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can significantly increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. However, many cancer risk factors can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, which helps minimize the likelihood of developing the disease.

Myth: Cancer is contagious

Although cancers are not spread from person to person, there are viruses such as hepatitis C and human papillomavirus (HPV) that can increase the risk of developing cancer.

Hepatitis C can be transmitted through the blood of an infected person, which can happen through the use of manicure or dental tools, or through injection needles. Untreated hepatitis C (and its treatment is very expensive) leads to liver cirrhosis and cancer. There is no vaccine against this hepatitis, but a sure way to protect yourself is to avoid using reusable needles (and using drugs that require needles to inject), manicure products, and dental appliances.

The HPV virus, in turn, can be transmitted during sexual contact. HPV can be oncogenic or not, that is, dangerous or non-dangerous, and practically does not show any symptoms, so many people do not know about its existence in the body for years. If left untreated for a long time, it can develop into cancer, so it is important to get Pap test (Papanikolaou test) every year (it is included in the compulsory medical insurance and is included in the list of standard gynecological tests).

Vaccinations are an effective method of protecting against oncogenic types of HPV, which contribute to the development of cervical cancer. Children and adolescents should be vaccinated before they become sexually active. In Russia, about 20 thousand cases of cervical cancer are detected annually.