cancer myth

cancer myth

Fringe oncology
Any of a number of sweeping assertions that may be made by purveyors of unproven forms of cancer treatments to “prove” the validity of their method of pseudomedicine. While it is true that a preventive lifestyle (e.g., no smoking, alcohol in moderation, limited red meat consumption, 5 fruits and vegetables/day, high dietary fibre, regular exercise, underconsumption of calories, etc.) reduce the risk of cancer, once it develops, no alternative method matches conventional (mainstream) medicine in prolonging life.

Cancer myths—fringe oncology arguments 
• Cancer is a single disease;
• Cancer spreads like wildfire;
• Cancer’s cause is unknown;
• Cancer has no cure;
• Cancer-free societies exist;
• Cancer can be cured by diet;
• There is a conspiracy (e.g., by physicians, pharmaceutical concerns) against curing cancer (i.e., to maintain/increase profit);
• Cancer can be cured by a strong belief in the treatment;
• Science is close-minded toward unorthodox therapies;
• Alternative therapies offer a “last chance” for patients.

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

cancer myth

Any popular belief about the nature of malignancy, which may sharply differ from available scientific evidence. See Cancer fallacy, Unproven forms of cancer therapy.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.