Finding out you have cancer can be overwhelming. And it doesn’t help that cancer care is a complex and often misunderstood subject.
With so much information available online and through social media, it’s important to find reliable sources. Having the facts at hand will help you make informed decisions about your care.
“The internet can be great for finding support groups for rare cancers, but it’s also full of a lot of information that isn’t supported by research,” says Jacob Woller, DNPcancer specialist at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center in Bellingham, Washington.
Cancer specialists, called oncologists, have done a lot of work to understand the risks of different types of cancer and the full range of treatment options for each person, Woller says.
“There are so many variations in cancer,” he adds. “Even when we know which organ or tissue the cancer originated from, the cellular changes that led to the cancer can be varied and diverse.”
This is why one person’s breast cancer may act differently from another’s. And why treatment plans for a tumor at one stage may be different at another stage.
Below, Woller helps dispel some common myths — and share the facts — about cancer care.
Myth 1: All cancer treatment involves chemotherapy.
Do: Chemotherapy is a common treatment in the field of medical oncology, but it’s not your only choice. Your care team will work with you to create a care plan based on your cancer type and stage.
Your plan may include any of the following types of treatment, separately or in combination:
- Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy fast-growing cancer cells.
- Radiation uses energy rays to damage or destroy cancer.
- Immunotherapy strengthens your body’s natural defense system so it can focus on detecting and fighting cancer. Immunotherapy drugs can be given IV, as a pill, or sometimes in topical form (rubbed into your skin).
- Surgery uses precise tools and techniques to eliminate cancer cells and tumors.
Each type of treatment has its advantages. “There have been many developments over the decades in cancer care,” says Woller. “Immunotherapy and targeted therapies have represented a radical change in the treatment of certain cancers. That being said, chemotherapy is still often used as a first-line treatment for many types, such as head, neck, and ovarian cancer.
Your oncologist will help you choose what best meets your needs.
“We often make recommendations based on national and international guidelines,” notes Woller. “But the guidelines are just that, a treatment guide.”
Your healthcare team may find that the risks or side effects of certain treatments are not right for you. If so, they can adjust your treatment plan to better meet your goals.
Myth 2: Radiation therapy always causes harmful side effects.
Do: New technologies mean radiotherapy is now smoother and more precise than you think.
Treatments like intensity-modulated radiotherapyy (IMRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) target cancer cells better than in the past. They use special tools to focus on the cancer and spare nearby healthy tissue or organs. This improved precision means you’ll experience fewer side effects like fatigue or skin irritation.
Myth 3: Alternative treatments like acupuncture can cure cancer.
Do: Although some alternative therapies may help you feel better, there is no evidence that they can cure cancer.
Your cancer care team knows what works best, based on research and experience. They can help you find therapies to relieve your symptoms that work with your medical treatments. This could include working with a oncological dietitianA integrative medicine providerA palliative care team or other suppliers.
“I am always in favor of complementary and integrative medicine to optimize health,” says Woller. “But it’s important to talk to an oncologist about treatment options before taking matters into your own hands.”
Woller remembers a skin cancer patient who thought CBD oil could cure him. “He avoided seeing a doctor for over a year. During this time, what was initially curable spread and became difficult to treat. He ended up dying later that year, in his early 50s. It was very sad to see someone so distrustful of Western medicine when they could have benefited from standard treatment.
Woller encourages patients to talk to their provider about any home treatment they are considering. “Certain supplements can change your metabolism and make chemotherapy more toxic or less effective,” he says. And high doses of antioxidant supplements like turmeric can affect some forms of chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Myth 4: Cancer is always caused by lifestyle habits like smoking or eating unhealthy foods.
Do: Certain daily habits may increase your risk of cancer, but it is not that simple.
Smoking, lack of physical activity and poor diet can make certain cancers, such as lung or colon cancer, more likely. But others can occur due to changes in your genes passed down through generations.
Still others could be caused by your environment, including exposure to harmful chemicals or too much sun. And some types are linked to viruses or bacteria that cause certain health problems.
“A healthy lifestyle, stress management, sufficient sleep and supporting the immune system will always be recommended to reduce the risk of developing cancer and the risk of recurrence,” says Woller. “But there are so many causes, known and unknown. Even health enthusiasts and organic farmers get cancer.
“When someone is diagnosed with cancer, we try to place the blame on personal action. Instead, we focus on the present and how we can deal with what we are facing.
Myth 5: Cancer treatment always means surgery.
Do: Cancer surgery is a common choice, but it is not always necessary. Your healthcare team may recommend radiation Or chemo instead, or with surgery.
Surgery is often used to remove a tumor, especially if it is easy to reach and the cancer has not spread. The latest advances include minimally invasive procedures and robot-assisted technology. Using these approaches means smaller incisions, less pain and faster recovery.
But some types of cancer respond better with other options or when combined with surgery. Your healthcare team may use radiation or chemotherapy before surgery to help remove a tumor. Or, they can use them after surgery to destroy remaining cancer cells.
Myth 6: Cancer treatment always causes hair loss.
Do: Certain treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, can cause hair loss. But hair doesn’t fall out for everyone. And recent improvements in treatment have made this side effect less common.
Lower doses and highly targeted treatment mean this is less likely during radiotherapy. And a technique called scalp cooling, in which you wear a special cap during treatment, can protect your hair during chemotherapy.
Myth 7: Cancer treatment is always very expensive.
Do: Cancer treatment can include doctor visits, hospital stays, tests and medications, which can add up quickly. But there are ways to manage costs. PeaceHealth has financial aid programs And cancer social workers help. They can explain in detail what the insurance covers and what other resources are available.
How to get reliable information
Living with cancer is not something you have to do alone. Anytime you have a question, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare team. They are there to support you, share accurate information and provide you with the best care possible.
“There are an overwhelming amount of resources to educate you about cancer and its treatment,” says Woller. “But not all of them are evidence-based.”
He recommends turning to authoritative sources like the National Comprehensive Cancer NetworkTHE National Cancer InstituteTHE American Cancer Society, Cancer.net Or Chemocare.
“As always,” he adds, “it’s helpful to take any information you pull from the Internet to a trusted source, such as your primary oncologist.”
