Mayo Clinic Care Network Content
Articles

Cancer treatment myths: Any truth to these common beliefs?

Myth: Drug companies and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are blocking or withholding new cancer treatments Myth: Everyone with the same kind of cancer gets the same kind of treatment Content Myth: A positive attitude is all you need to beat cancer Myth: If we can put a man on the moon, we should have cured cancer by now Myth: Drug companies and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are blocking or withholding new cancer treatments Myth: Regular checkups and today's medical technology can detect all cancer early Myth: Undergoing cancer treatment means you can't live at home, work or go about your usual activities Myth: Cancer is always painful Myth: A needle biopsy can disturb cancer cells, causing them to travel to other parts of the body Myth: Surgery causes cancer to spread Myth: Everyone who has the same kind of cancer gets the same kind of treatment Myth: Everyone who has cancer has to have treatment

Myth: Drug companies and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are blocking or withholding new cancer treatments

Truth: Your doctor and the FDA, which must approve new drugs before they can be marketed, are your allies. As such, they make your safety a high priority.

Unfortunately, scientific studies to determine the safety and effectiveness of new cancer treatments take time. That may create the appearance or lead to reports that effective new treatments are being blocked.

If you still believe a cure is being purposefully withheld, ask yourself why a doctor would choose to specialize in cancer research. Doctors often go into cancer research because they have a family member or friend affected by the disease.

Doctors are as interested in finding a cure as anyone else, for the same reason — it affects them personally. They hate to see a loved one in pain and don't wish to lose this person. They also want to spare others what they have gone through.

Related Services