Myth 1: Don't use your mobile phones too often – it can cause cancer
This was fuelled by early studies which were concerned with the use of mobile phones. Although the earlier retrospective and cohort studies may have suggested that the use of mobile phones were associated with cancer, this has largely been disproved by newer more extensive studies.
Myth 2: Always put on your sunscreen before going out. It will prevent skin cancer.
Sunscreen can assist in the prevention of cancer, but by itself it cannot guarantee that you will not get cancer. Protection from the sun requires the use of shades and clothing.
However, recently many studies seem to suggest that sunscreen protects only against one type of skin cancer. Further studies are awaited.
Myth 3: I always see doctors eating meat cooked on a charcoal grill. I think it won't increase the risk of cancer.
This is rather difficult to prove or disprove. It depends on how refular is "regular". Once a day is "regular", as is once every 6 months. It is more important to state the frequency: very frequent, not so frequent, occasionally or rarely. Dietary studies are very difficult to perform due to the fact that we rely on individuals memory.
In addition, charcoal grill cooking depends on what is the end product on the grill, i.e., whether it is overcooked to the extent of being burnt or still rare. Nevertheless, heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAA) from barbercued meat have been known to cause cancer of the liver, colon, breast, skin, prostate and lung in rodent (mice) experiments.
Furthermore, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from charcoal-broiled/grilled meat is associated with oncogene mutations seen in animal models. It is important therefore to bear in mind these results when cooking the meat on the charcoal grill.
Myth 4: If your grandmother and/or mother had breast cancer, you will definitely get it.
It is true that if the grandmother and mother both had breast cancer, especially if they suffered the cancer before they were 50, the risk of a lady getting breast cancer would be higher. If either one, but not both, got breast cancer, the risk is not as high but higher than a lady who has no family history at all.
However, it does not mean that the lady will definitely get cancer. For example, compared to a lady with no family history, a lady with a first order (sister or mother) family history of breast cancer would be at 1.5 to 3 times higher? risk of getting breast cancer.
It is prudent for a lady with any close family history of breast cancer to seek medical confirmation and go for breast cancer screening to seek medical confirmation and go for breast cancer screening. For ladies above 40 years old, this would mean a mammogram.
Dr See Hui Ti
Consultant Medical Oncologist and Physician
Parkway Cancer Centre, Gleneagles Hospital
For more information, contact CanHOPE