CANCER MYTHS

Literally, what can be more fascinating than a scientifically unproven fallacy or myth? If you are a movie buff, you would applaud the level of critical thinking that goes into movie production – putting in the visual effects, screenwriting, editing among others.

Can you imagine some persons already inhabit a planet that does not support life as we speak? Or people can actually surf on current made by a Tsunami?

In the Nigerian movie industry, typically it is not uncommon to find the character of the chief priest play the role of a detective with the aid of a ‘God of justice’. He gives the suspects of a crime an unknown liquid X to drink and almost poetically the culprit foams at the mouth and drops down. Yes, we are amazed as though it is all real. It’s exactly as incredulous as it sounds. Right? This is why it is called ‘Make-Believe’

Don’t we see a lot of health-related information being peddled by media scientist from educational institution, street hawkers and native medicine men? As you walk through the streets of Lagos to nooks of Kano, you would hear the familiar voice of the vendor ring out. He would allude the cause to all of life’s problems to a germ and that he has the ultimate cure to the ailment caused by the germ.

In this article, we will be addressing some of these common misinformation about cancer and care management. One beautiful thing about science I should say is the fact that it is unapologetically concerned with the business of question old dogmas; proving and disproving theories.

Experts in organisations as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and other researchers in the field of oncology have been able to bring some clarity to some of the fiction guised as science on the internet.

So what have you heard? What theories on cancer and cancer care do you hold close to your heart? We’d love to hear from you.

Below are a number of publically-available information that have been debunked by the NCI and other leading cancer research organizations.

That cancer is a death sentence

This is misleading. As a 2018 NCI report noted in many developing economies, the likelihood of dying from cancer has dropped steadily since the 1990. In fact, in recent times, there has been an increase (greater than 90 percent) in the 5-year survival rate of certain cancers such as breast, prostate and thyroid cancers.

In developing economies, a massive improvement in the resource allocation to the health sector in line with global standards, particularly in the fight against cancer will possibly see a corresponding increase in the survival rate of cancer patients in Africa.

Experts also added that the recent increase in the survival rate of cancer patient may be connected to decrease smoking rates, early cancer detection and early treatment.

Eating sugar-based food will make your cancer worse

Sugar-based foods include your chocolate, cola, ketchup, beer, cake. In most cultures in Nigeria, most of their staple food are high in carbohydrate and so are a good source of sugar.

Oncology experts have now debunked this myth about sugar and cancer.

Biologically, all cells require sugar in form of glucose to survive – cancer ad normal cells. Although, there are myriads of scientific reports that suggest that cancer cells consume more sugar than normal cells, no studies have been able to show undoubtedly that eating sugar will make cancer worse or that if you stop eating sugar, the tumor will shrink or disappear – according to the National Cancer Institute report (2018).

Unfortunately, there are many claims presented on the internet and peddled by mischievous individuals hoping to market their products.

In Nigeria and many parts of Africa, in addition to misleading information, there is also an epidemic of fake drugs in the local market due to poorly regulated drug practices and patent system. Or worse medicinal formulations that not effective for the ailment that claim to cure and are also not safe for public consumption.

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Written by: Shobo Akinmayowa Adedoyin