Cancer: THESE are the 'Achilles heel' in cancer diagnosis and treatment

Many people avoid going to a doctor because of several myths about the disease. A few common myths which are always associated with cancer are: it is not curable, it is the end and it is very painful. These fears prevent people from visiting a doctor and they keep the disease hidden until it reaches an advanced stage.

There is still less awareness around cancer, as a result people ignore the signs of the disease when it is in its early stage. By the time, the signs are more visible and intervene with the normal life, the disease already progresses to an advanced stage. This is another big reason why one should not delay visiting a doctor even when the signs are subtle.

Some people believe this myth and avoid surgery. "There is no evidence that indicates surgery can cause cancer to spread. Don't delay or refuse treatment because of this myth. Surgically removing cancer is often the first and most important treatment," says MayoClinic.

This myth mostly stems from the other common myths about cancer. Many people wrongly believe that cancer impairs one's ability to carry on with daily work. Believing the myth many people tend to stop once they are diagnosed with cancer. One should know that there are several people who have fought against cancer and have emerged winners. A healthy lifestyle, timely medical help and strong determination can help you defeat cancer.

This is one of the biggest and most impactful myths about cancer. Cancerous growth can be stopped with the right medical intervention. The removal of a part of the cancerous tumor or the cancerous organ can save the body from being invaded by the rapidly multiplying cells. Hence the sooner you visit a doctor the easier it is for you to beat cancer.

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Cancer is the leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 10 million deaths, or one in six deaths, in 2018, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said. This alarming data makes it extremely critical to know the early signs of the disease because it is at this stage treating this disease is easier. Regular screening helps identify the disease at an early stage. "Screening aims to identify individuals with findings suggestive of specific cancer or pre-cancer before they have developed symptoms. When abnormalities are identified during screening, further tests to establish a definitive diagnosis should follow, as should referral for treatment if cancer is proven to be present," WHO warns.