Stop Believing These 3 Cancer Myths.
AS A RADIATION ONCOLOGIST IN THE SEATTLE AREA, I spend my days fighting cancer with beams, biopsies, and compassion.
But some of the toughest battles I face don’t happen in the treatment room — they happen in conversation.
Oscar Wilde once wrote,
“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”
Nowhere is that more evident than in what the public believes about cancer.
The Myths That Still Linger
Cancer remains one of the most feared diagnoses in the world, claiming 10 million lives globally in 2020 alone.
In the United States, nearly 2 in 5 people will hear the words “You have cancer” at some point in their lives.
It’s a disease that touches nearly every family — and yet, much of what people believe about it is outdated, oversimplified, or just plain wrong.
The word cancer doesn’t refer to a single illness.
It’s a sprawling constellation of diseases, each with its biology, behavior, and treatment.
And with that complexity comes confusion.
In this article, I’ll discuss three of the most persistent myths I hear from patients, friends, and even fellow health professionals.
Some are rooted in fear.
Others are in false hope.
All deserve a closer look.
Cancer Is Common
Cancer remains one of the most feared diagnoses on the planet, claiming 10 million lives globally in 2020 alone.
In the United States, nearly 2 in 5 people will hear the words “You have cancer” at some point in their lives.
It’s a disease that touches nearly every family, and yet, so much of what the public believes about it is either outdated, oversimplified or just plain wrong.
Cancer
The word “cancer” doesn’t describe a single disease — it’s a sprawling constellation of conditions that can affect nearly every part of the human body.
And with that complexity comes confusion.
In this article, I’ll discuss five of the most persistent myths I hear from patients, friends, and even fellow healthcare providers.
Some are rooted in fear, others in hope, but all deserve a closer look.
Stop Believing These 3 Cancer Myths. Myth #1: “There’s No Cure.”
I’m always glad to correct this one.
One of the most damaging myths is the belief that a cancer diagnosis is a death sentence.
As an oncologist, I can say with full confidence that that’s simply not true.
Thanks to decades of progress in science and medicine, many cancers are now curable, especially when caught early.
For example, here are modern prostate cancer management outcomes:
And here’s a powerful statistic from the American Cancer Society:
Since 1991, the U.S. cancer death rate has fallen by 33% — a remarkable drop driven by decades of research, advances in early detection, better treatments, and, perhaps most significantly, a steep decline in tobacco use.
The Power of Prevention and Early Detection
Let’s turn to the power of prevention and early detection.
- Colonoscopies can catch precancerous polyps before they become dangerous.
- Pap smears, HPV vaccines, and testing have dramatically reduced cervical cancer rates.
- Low-dose CT scans help us find earlier lung cancers — when they’re far more treatable.
Today’s treatments are changing the game
Equally transformative are advances in therapy.
Here are some examples:
- Patients with leukemia or lymphoma are living longer thanks to immunotherapy and bone marrow transplants.
- Even metastatic melanoma, once notoriously difficult to treat, is seeing durable responses due to checkpoint inhibitors — a type of immunotherapy that helps the body fight back.
Yes, some cancers remain stubborn.
But the idea that all cancer is incurable is not just wrong — it’s harmful.
It discourages screening, delays treatment, and robs patients of the hope they deserve.
The truth is more nuanced — and far more optimistic.
Even some advanced cancers, like metastatic melanoma, are seeing durable responses thanks to checkpoint inhibitors — a type of immunotherapy that helps the immune system fight back.
Yes, some cancers remain aggressive and challenging to treat.
But the narrative that cancer equals incurable is not only outdated — it’s dangerous.
It can discourage patients from seeking screening, delay diagnosis, and rob people of hope. The truth is more nuanced — and far more encouraging.
Stop Believing These 3 Cancer Myths. Myth #2: Surgery Spreads Cancer
This one has a kernel of truth, but it’s mostly myth.
Cancer can spread during surgery, but modern surgical techniques make that risk extremely low.
As the American Cancer Society explains:
“Advances in equipment used during surgery and more detailed imaging tests have helped make the risk of surgery spreading cancer to be very low.”
Another related myth?
Exposing a tumor to air makes it grow faster.
That’s not true.
Tumors don’t suddenly accelerate when exposed during surgery.
A related myth indicates that a tumor will grow faster or spread to other body parts when exposed to the air.
This belief is untrue.
Stop Believing These 3 Cancer Myths. Myth #3: “Herbs Can Cure Cancer.”
This belief is not just wrong — it’s dangerous.
No herbal remedy has ever been proven to cure or treat cancer.
That said, complementary therapies like acupuncture, meditation, and yoga can be immensely helpful in managing stress and easing treatment side effects.
But there’s a difference between supportive care and a cure.
As the National Cancer Institute puts it:
“Natural doesn’t always mean safe.”
Some herbs can interfere with treatment — or cause harm on their own:
These are reasons why anyone undergoing treatment should always talk to their healthcare providers before starting supplements, no matter how harmless they seem.
The Bottom Line: Replace Fear With Facts
Misinformation can be just as harmful as a disease.
Clear the air, lean on evidence, and empower patients with facts.
Your thoughts?
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