Cancer Myths Busted: Oncologist Dr Jayesh Sharma Sets the Record Straight

Cancer still carries a weight of fear that fuels countless rumors. When myths creep into everyday conversation, they can actually hurt patients by steering them away from proper care. On July 13, senior cancer surgeon Dr Jayesh Sharma took to Instagram and tackled four of the most stubborn falsehoods.

Myth 1: A biopsy spreads cancer. Dr Sharma says the idea stems from people waiting too long to get a biopsy. “It’s like slamming on the brakes just before you hit a truck,” he explains. The procedure itself doesn’t push cancer cells around; it merely gives doctors the tissue they need to plan treatment.

Myth 2: Cancer is contagious. In some circles, superstition still paints cancer as a disease that can be “caught” by touch. Sharma points out the heartbreak this causes – families isolating patients, even keeping them away from children. “My own hands have been in the operating theatre for 25 years, and I’ve never caught cancer from a patient,” he says.

Myth 3: Cancer patients must cut out all sugar. This one is a social‑media invention, Sharma notes. “You can eat sugar just like anyone else,” he replies. Denying a sweet treat such as gulab jamun to a patient who otherwise tolerates it is more cruelty than cure. Sugar does not directly feed tumours, nor does its absence starve them.

Myth 4: Stage 4 cancer doesn’t need treatment. Many assume that once the disease reaches the fourth stage, treatment is pointless. Sharma cautions against that fatalism. Even in advanced cases, therapy—whether to shrink tumours or simply manage symptoms—can improve quality of life and prolong comfort.

In the end, Sharma reminds us that the inevitable end comes for everyone, but the focus should be on living well, not on unfounded fears. As always, personal medical advice should come from a qualified doctor, not from viral posts.