Cancer myths: debunked

Fact or ficton?

World Cancer Day is on 4 February 2013 and this year will focus on damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer, under the tagline “Cancer - Did you know?” World Cancer Day is a chance to raise our collective voices in the name of improving general knowledge around cancer and dismissing misconceptions about the disease, so with an ever-growing list of alarmist headlines, we asked some of the world’s leading cancer experts to separate the real dangers from the scare stories.

Tobacco

According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use accounts for at least 30% of all cancer deaths and 87% of lung cancer deaths. “The evidence is rock solid. It’s in a category of its own,” says Sara Hiom, director at Cancer Research UK. So if you want to reduce your cancer risk – stub out that cigarette today.

Alcohol

A large European study, carried out by researchers from the German Institute of Human Nutrition in Potsdam-Rehbruecke looked at how current and former alcohol consumption related to the development of cancer in more than 350,000 people from eight countries. The researchers extrapolated the results to the general population and estimated that, across Europe, 10% of all cancers in men and 3% of all cancers in women could be attributed to alcohol consumption.

“There is very strong evidence that all types of alcoholic drinks increase the risk of a number of cancers,” says Kate Mendoza from World Cancer Research Fund but there is no need to abstain completely – just cut down if you are drinking a lot. “We recommend limiting intake to two units a day,” says Mendoza.

Processed and red meat

Red meat could be a contributor to cancer – especially bowel cancer. “There is evidence to suggest a link,” Hiom says. One possible reason for this is that the compound that gives red meat its colour, haem, may damage the lining of the bowel. People eating 160g a day increase their bowel cancer risk by a third, compared to those who eat 20g a day – just don’t cut it out altogether as it is a good source of nutrients including protein, iron and zinc.

Mobile phones

In 2011 the IARC (International Agency on Research on Cancer) declared that mobile phone use is a possible carcinogen (any substance that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer). Shortly afterwards, the Institute of Cancer Research claimed the evidence was increasingly against a link. “The studies are all over the place,” American Cancer Society's medical officer Dr Len Lichtenfeld admits - so there is no need to get rid of your handset just yet.

Microwave ovens

Currently there is no known research that has found that microwave ovens create cancer-causing substances. “Even if the radio waves they emit are linked with cancer,” says Lichtenfeld, “most people don’t spend anywhere near enough time in the proximity of microwave ovens for this to be a major concern.”

Coffee

“Right now, most of us think that the evidence shows that coffee does not cause cancer. But it is still on the IARC list,” says Lichtenfeld. In fact, earlier last year, researchers from the US National Cancer Institute and Imperial College, London found that those who drank four to five cups of coffee (caffeinated or decaffeinated) a day reduced risk of developing bowel cancer by 15%. However, the researchers did recommend that further investigation into the link is needed, including study of the specific chemicals in coffee that could be having an effect.

Source: Cancer myths: debunked