Health

Cancer is an all-too-common disease, and thus, there is a lot of information out there about it. About 1.8 billion websites operate simultaneously every day around the world, and of course, many of these sites spread false information. Let's bust some myths about cancer. Myth 1: Cancer is a Recent Disease A Google search for the word cancer reveals millions of pages about this disease. As a result, it may seem like cancer is a modern illness. However, when you rewind the clock, you'll discover that cancer has been there since human existence. Scientists found a skeleton as old as 3000 with cancer signs. It's also a fact that cancer cases have risen since the 70s. And factors like diet, lifestyle, and air pollution increase cancer risks. Age is also a significant cause of this illness. That's because as people get older, the DNA in their cells can get damaged, resulting in cancer growth. The good news is that modern science uses screening, imaging, and pathology to detect early cancer signs. Health service providers also offer varied treatments to fight the disease. Because of this, many people survive cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, about 3,000 cases occur every year in the U.S. Myth 2: Perfumes can Cause Cancer Some people believe that deodorants and antidepressants lead to cancer. Because these chemicals remain on your body, they might stop you from sweating. As a result, you can develop breast or lymph cancer due to the build-up of toxins in the lymph glands. However, breast cancer and lymph glands aren't related. Breast cancer begins in the breast and has nothing to do with deodorants. Your body also has other ways of removing poisons besides sweating. Scientists have not seen any connection between cancer and antidepressants or hair dye. Harmful chemicals in old dyes are no longer in use. Currently, there's little evidence that hair dyes can lead to cancer. Antidepressants contain aluminum compounds that your skin may absorb. The chemicals could cause changes in the hormones. As a result, some people think hormonal changes can lead to cancer. However, it's a belief without any scientific proof. Perhaps another related issue is chemicals in old paint in some houses. Some claim that these compounds are also the root cause of cancer. That's because over 50% of homes in the U.S. date back to the 1980s. Houses built in the 1980s contain lead paint. The chemical has had adverse effects on children and families. Some scientists say it leads to neurological health problems, comas, convulsions, and death. Lead could also be a cancer-causing agent or carcinogen. However, chemicals on their own have a small role in causing cancer. Risk behaviors, smoking, alcohol abuse, sun exposure, radiation, and exposure to chemicals on the job are other cancer causes. Getting cancer from chemicals also depends on these factors. What type of chemicals were you exposed to?How much of the chemicals did you absorb?How long did the contact last?How many times were you exposed to the chemical?When were you exposed to the compound?What your current health status looks like Myth 3: Diets with Acid Can Cause Cancer Another common belief is that acidic diets can result in cancer when your blood becomes 'too acidic.' The drivers of this claim suggest taking foods with alkaline to destroy the cancer cells. But the truth is that your blood contains a small amount of alkaline. And the kidneys keep a perfect balance of alkaline in the blood. The kidneys get rid of any excess acid or alkaline through urine. However, you can develop acidosis. It occurs when your lungs and kidneys can't work correctly to balance your pH. Wrapping Up Cancer has been around for a long time. It's caused by several factors, such as age, lifestyle, smoking, air pollution, radiation and sun exposure, chemical exposure, and more. Only science-backed evidence can help us understand the disease. Regular cancer checks and reducing risk behaviors can improve your health.