Is Cancer Contagious? 3 Myths Debunked!

There are so many myths and beliefs that people hold when it comes to cancer and all sorts of things that we still endure as a society. Perhaps one of the most often asked and horrifying questions, especially when diagnosed with the malignant disease is “Is cancer contagious?” However, understanding of this simple fact is not very clear because of certain myths and misconceptions. Here is the list of the existing myths about cancer that we are going to dispel in this article: 

The myth number 1: Is Cancer Contagious?

The misconception arose from people experiencing symptoms of cancer and died from other ailments while others, because of their plight, contracted other diseases from infected persons.

There is hardly any myth that is more entrenched than the myth that is cancer contagious and that the disease can be passed from one person to another as easily as the flu virus. Quite possibly, it origins from some misconceptions about how cancer forms and disseminates in the body.

Fact: Cancer is a condition which originates from changes in a person’s DNA, particular in the cell division process. Such mutations can be inherited, caused by exposure to certain chemicals or radiation (tobacco smoke or ultraviolet light), and even behavioural. However, these are not something which can be directly passed from one human to another, which are mutations. Cancer cells are not as easily transmittable as viruses or bacteria which means that one cannot contract the disease from another person, or by passing a kiss or sharing a meal.

Myth 2: Is Cancer A Blood/ Organ Donation Disease?

Another very demanding question is Is Cancer Contagious Through Blood or Organ Donation? It is possible to get cancer from someone who already had cancer and has a blood transfusion or an organ transplant. This has raised many concerns with regards to the security of getting blood or an organ from a donor who had the disease.

Fact: The probability of getting cancer from a blood transfusion or organ transplant is very small. The blood which is transfused in the body is always scrutinized and the organs transplanted in the body are also tested to confirm that they are safe to be used. It must be stated that although there are only a few recorded instances of cancer transmission through organ transplants, these cases are very rare. In fact, most transplant centres have measures that they put in place to reduce this risk, and they do not accept organs from donors with active cancer. Moreover, common knowledge denotes that cancer patients cannot donate blood which would in any case lower the risk.

Myth 3 Is Cancer Contagious like the Regular Infections that result from Viruses?

Some people think that cancer is a viral disease caused by bacteria or germ because there are viruses that can cause cancer and hence cancer is viral and can be transmitted from one person to another.

Fact: It is also important to note that certain viruses like human papillomavirus (HPV), Hepatitis B and C are known to pose a higher risk of developing certain types of cancer but the cancer is not communicable. Since the virus can be passed from one person to the other, then the cancer that might develop from the virus cannot be passed. For instance, HPV could be passed around through sexual activity and some people may develop cervical cancer, but you cannot ‘get’ cervical cancer from another person. It will therefore be important to educate people on the differences between the virus and the cancer that it might be expected to cause.

Below are some realities that people need to know about cancer: 

The question Is cancer contagious? simply indicates the basic human instinct of fear of the unknown. There is a lot of misinformation about cancer, this can be a scary word, but it’s crucial to distinguish myths from realities. Acknowledging the fact that cancer is not contagious is vital in fighting prejudice and feeling of rejection that patients are likely to experience. 

Patients battling cancer have a tough time dealing with the illness and any misconception that is held about it being infectious will only compound their misery. It remains the case, however, that three myths regarding cancer continue to persist in modern society, and by dispelling these myths about “is cancer contagious” we can promote better and more tolerant attitudes towards those suffering from this disease, as well as recognise the solvable nature of many that currently exist. 

Conclusion 

Once again, it is important to remember the question posed – is cancer contagious? The response to this is a clear no, and implies that cancer cannot be passed through ordinary contact, blood, transfusion, transplants and all other forms of human interaction. The perception that cancer is a fatal disease that is easily transmittable to others should be discouraged because many people have misconceptions about the disease. Knowledge is a very strong weapon not only in the fight against cancer but in the fight for its cure, and in helping out those who are suffering from it. Hence, in the end the answer of the popular question “is cancer contagious?” has been answered and cleared all the myths.