Most people have a basic understanding of what cancer is. But many don’t know the truth about these 10 facts and myths about cancer.

There are many causes of cancer, including genetics, tobacco use, infectious organisms, environmental factors, diet, hormones and immune conditions. Pinpointing how and why someone gets cancer can be impossible -- long periods of time may pass between exposure to whatever may cause it and the advent of symptoms that lead to a diagnosis.

The World Cancer Research Fund estimates that one-third of cancers may be prevented with lifestyle changes and methods of preventing infection, such as wearing sunscreen and not exposing the body to indoor tanning devices. Certainly, maintaining good general health, a diet heavy on fiber and unprocessed foods and a reasonable amount of exercise can contribute to prevention. But there is no guarantee or magic bullet that provides total immunity.

Screening and checkups are ways that early stages of cancer can be detected, which typically results in less extensive treatments and costs.

Despite a wealth of information on the potential risk factors for cancer, its treatment and how it develops, there are many myths surrounding the disease. It was not too long ago that talk show host Rosie O’Donnell told an employee that “liars get cancer,” a comment that drew media attention and condemnation.

There are still people who believe that any form of cancer is an automatic death sentence, and no matter if the person lived a totally clean and virtuous life, acquiring the disease somehow indicates culpability for engaging in some sort of activity that brought on the disease.


10 Fast Facts

To shed some light on cancer and its conditions, here are 10 facts and myths that people should know about cancer and its treatment.

1. Most cancer occurs in older people. Close to 80 percent of all cancer diagnoses occur in people age 55 years and older. Part of that reason may be that they seek medical attention more often than younger patients, resulting in higher rates of discovery.
2. Smoking is still a leading cause of cancer death. In 2015, there were an estimated 589,000 cancer deaths in the United States. Of those deaths, almost 171,000 were attributed to tobacco smoking. Combining smoking with any other risk factor -- heavy alcohol consumption, obesity and family history, to name a few -- can turn patients into a walking time bomb.
3. A lot of people get cancer. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that almost 14.5 million Americans who had cancer at some point were still alive as of Jan. 1, 2014. About 1.6 million new cases are expected to occur this year, but that does not include carcinoma in situ (noninvasive cancer) of any site except urinary bladder, basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers. Those types are not reported to cancer registries.
4. The survival rate from cancer is rising. The five-year survival rate for all cancers diagnosed from 2004 to 2010 was 68 percent, up from 49 percent in 1975 to 1977. Earlier diagnosis and improvement in treatments are the reason.
5. Cancer is more than one disease. Cancer is actually more than 100 different diseases, most of which have the abnormal growth of cells in common to form a tumor. Benign tumors (non-cancerous) do not spread, but malignant tumors can invade other body parts and tissues.
6. The most common cancer is… The most common type of cancer is non-melanoma skin cancer, which includes basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. There are more than 1 million annual cases in the United States each year, most of them related to exposure to UV radiation from the sun, tanning booths and sunlamps.
7. Gender and ethnicity play a role. Men get cancer at slightly higher rates than women, and cancer researchers track ethnicity to determine which types of cancers affect which groups. The results are all over the map. In California, black men are five times more likely to die of cancer than South Asian men, but liver and stomach cancers are more common among Asians than blacks. Understanding why this happens is a key to developing new treatments and ways to help prevent new cases.
   

8. Cancer can be cured, but the cancer industry won’t let that happen. This is a common but false notion. Because cancer mutates and includes a large number of diseases, finding a cure has proved elusive. Although genetic research is starting to unlock some secrets, there is still much to be learned about why a cell becomes cancerous and why some people do better in fighting the disease than others.
9. Living a normal life while undergoing cancer treatment is impossible. Wrong. The fact is that most people will be treated for cancer on an outpatient basis in their communities. While not everyone has the strength to continue working or going to school because of the debilitating effects of some treatments, many people continue to live relatively normal lives while undergoing cancer therapies.
10. A good attitude can help with cancer recovery. While there is no scientific data to support the idea that a positive attitude can overcome cancer, there is certainly evidence that it makes treatments more tolerable and life easier for friends and family of the afflicted.

There are hundreds of other facts available online from many organizations regarding cancer and its treatment, and many non-profit organizations maintain vast libraries of information on the various diseases. There are also online groups where those undergoing treatments can share their experiences and provide tips on recovering and coping with the disease.

In the Internet age, no one, no matter where they live or their income status, has to poke a stick in the dark to find facts. The information from reliable sources is out there waiting for discovery.