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
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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: Everyone who has the same kind of cancer gets the same kind of treatment
Truth: Your doctor tailors your treatment to you. What treatment you receive depends on where your cancer is, whether or how much it has spread, how it's affecting your body functions, your general health, and other factors.
More and more, cancer treatment is being tailored based on genetic testing on your cancer cells. Specific changes or mutations in your cancer cells may help guide your treatment. Also, cancer treatments may depend on the genes that you're born with. Certain genes may show that your body processes certain chemotherapy treatments and drugs differently than someone else's body.
