Little knowledge on cancer cause for big concern: Doctors

CHENNAI: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but a little knowledge about a dangerous thing is a catastrophe.
Doctors dealing with cancer patients have expressed surprise at the little knowledge, or the lack of it, that tech-savvy patients have on that giant killer, cancer.
Dr Saravanan Periasami, an oncologist at Global Health City, says his patients pose him inane questions on cancer quite frequently.With World Cancer Day being observed on February 4, cancer experts say this year’s theme, ‘Debunk the myths’ would go a long way in reducing cancer related mortalities.
The theme for 2014 focusses on four major concerns - ‘We don’t need to talk about cancer’, ‘There are no signs or symptoms of cancer’, ‘There is nothing I can do about cancer’ and ‘I don't have the right to cancer care’.Doctors say that apart from addressing these concerns, cancer fears should be alleviated.
Dr Periasami says his patients ask him if drinking water from a plastic cup could cause cancer or if yoga would help treat cancer. “We cannot rubbish them as silly questions as we are dealing with people afraid of a disease that, according to them, has no cure,” he said. He said most such patients are those who refer to the internet for information. “Of 10 patients every day, at least seven surf the internet for information about a certain illness. The plethora of medical information on the internet adds to their fear,” he said.
Dr T Raja, senior oncologist at Apollo Hospitals, agrees. He says that at least 50% of the 1,000 patients he sees in a month are internet savvy and visit him with several doubts about cancer. “I see a lot of patients who ask if having intercourse with a cancer patient would cause harm. The answer is a no. Information overload adds to confusion,” he said.
Simple fears can be alleviated by oncologists, but the bigger challenge lies in educating people that cancer is certainly curable if detected early, says Dr Alex Prasad of Chennai Cancer Care. “ With the technology today, cancer treatment is very promising,” he said.