Let’s try five simple questions to see what you know about health and wellness. Just note your answers (TRUE or FALSE) first and then scroll down…

  1. Cancer of the cervix can be prevented.
  2. You only need to think about cancer screening tests if you are over 50.
  3. Lung cancer only affects smokers.
  4. Bowel cancer can be cured if found early.
  5. All cancers are caused by lifestyle risk factors .

Now, let’s take a look at the answers

  1. Cancer of the cervix can be prevented.

TRUE. Cancer of the cervix is caused by long-term infection with a virus known as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV is spread by sexual contact and it usually causes no symptoms at all (so you won’t know if you have it) The main reason women have regular PAP smear tests is to detect HPV infection and or the early changes that will lead to cancer of the cervix – these can be treated quite effectively if they are detected early. So PAP smears are important. But the even better news is that there is now an effective vaccine against HPV. Girls aged from about 12 or so, and all young women, are strongly advised to consider this vaccine. Speak to your doctor.

  1. You only need to think about cancer screening tests if you are over 50.

FALSE. It is true that the risks for most cancers increase with age, but there are a number of risks that affect younger people. It is also true that personal family history and lifestyle factors can increase an individual’s risks. The best approach os for all adults, of all ages, to discuss health screening with their family doctor. Every one of us should have a clear personalised plan for regular health screening.

  1. Lung cancer only affects smokers.

FALSE. AND TRUE, sort of. There are forms of lung cancer that can affect non-smokers but these tend to be very rare and or specific to, for example, those exposed to asbestos or certain other dangerous chemicals. In the real world and in general practical terms, lung cancer is a disease caused by smoking. So the answer here rather depends on just how absolute and precise you want to be.

  1. Bowel cancer can be cured if found early.

TRUE. Bowel cancer nearly always begins as a polyp. It also tends to spread fairly slowly initially. A colonoscopy examination can not only detect polyps and very early cancer, it can often treat these completely during the examination (the polyp can be snared and excised quite neatly). Modern colonoscopy is one of the great health screening tests and should be considered by most adults over 40 or 50 years of age.

  1. All cancers are caused by lifestyle risk factors .

FALSE. It is true that lifestyle risks like smoking and heavy drinking, sun exposure, and being overweight are significant risk factors for many cancers including lung cancer, throat cancer, stomach cancer, bowel cancer, and more. But this is by no means the full story. There are genetic factors so family history plays a role here. There is age, about which we can do nothing of course (we all age). And there are things we are yet to understand. Science evolves and we learn more and more over time. But our understanding of cancer is incomplete.

So there is some health & wellness myth busting. We hope it is helpful, interesting, and thought-provoking.

Written by Dr Colin Burns