Common Misconceptions About Cancer

Misconception 1: "Cancer is always inherited"

The reality: The vast majority of cancers (around 90-95%) are caused by environmental and lifestyle factors — such as exposure to carcinogens like tobacco smoke, UV radiation, and certain chemicals — not by inherited gene mutations. While some families do carry inherited mutations (e.g., BRCA1/2 for breast cancer), having a family history only means increased risk, not certainty. Most people who develop cancer have no family history of the disease.

Misconception 2: "Benign tumours are completely harmless"

The reality: Although benign tumours do not invade tissues or metastasise, they can still be dangerous. A benign brain tumour can press on brain tissue as it grows, causing headaches, vision problems or seizures. A benign tumour near a blood vessel can restrict blood flow. The key point is that "benign" means "not cancerous," not "never a problem."

Misconception 3: "Cancer is a single disease"

The reality: There are over 200 different types of cancer, each arising from different cell types, driven by different mutations, and requiring different treatments. Lung cancer behaves very differently from leukaemia or skin cancer. This is why there is no single "cure for cancer" — treating cancer requires understanding which specific type is present and how it behaves.