Cancer is not contagious, writes Dr. Lopamudra Das Roy

Oct. 31: As I conduct the cancer screening outreaches, I come across many facets patients go through physically and emotionally… I have seen Cancer patients staying in isolation in rural India & also stories from urban
India revealed many unseen truths prevailing in the society…. “STORIES OF ISOLATION WHEN FACED WITH CANCER”

In a village in India in 2018, I went to meet a young mother at last stage of Breast Cancer. It was a small mud house and the mom was lying on the floor on a thin bedsheet. The family was scared to touch her, threatened that “Cancer is Contagious”. I couldn’t save the mother but that moment, I helped her to be placed on the bed, explained to the family that Cancer is NOT contagious, and made her children hug her. The mother was all in pain, looked at me and gave the smile that I will never forget in my life…it was the smile of satisfaction & happiness that now she would leave this world in peace because she was in the arms of her family.

Then I was in a city in India in 2019 conducting Breast Cancer screening outreaches, very educated community, after my session, a woman comes up and pours her heart out… “You just now mentioned about the woman from the village, I am a Breast cancer patient and I faced the same isolation from my educated friends and family, no one would ask me my emotional turmoil, as I go through the aggressive treatment of cancer, in-fact they would just avoid me & I feel so lonely”.

In another city, a woman comes and tells me, she had cancer in the mouth, and is a survivor now, but still she can sense the hesitation from people offering her glass of water or a cup of tea…. thoughts cropping up, that cancer will spread from the touch of the lips on the Glass or Cup.

These are just representation of innumerable instances & stories I heard and faced.

Is this justified? Can we advocate for all the women & men fighting Cancer?

Irrespective of socio-economic condition or education, our mind is polluted with myths & superstitions. A cancer patient needs the utmost support. The society needs to become the strength & not the weakness.

I request & my plea to the doctors and the oncologists, please explain to the family & caregivers about the
concept of Palliative Care, about the emotions a Cancer patient will go through during the aggressive treatment … and most importantly, explaining to the family that Cancer is NOT CONTAGIOUS and the patient needs the support of the family, friends and society.

A healthy person cannot “catch” cancer from someone who has it. There is no evidence that close contact or things like sex, kissing, touching, sharing meals, or breathing the same air can spread cancer from one person to another. We can absolutely touch and spend time with someone who has cancer. In fact, our support is the utmost valuable.

Though cancer itself isn’t contagious, sometimes viruses, which are contagious, can lead to the development of cancer. Examples of viruses that can cause cancer include:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) — a sexually transmitted infection — that can cause cervical cancer and other forms of cancer
• Hepatitis B or C — viruses transmitted through sexual intercourse or use of infected IV needles — that can cause liver cancer

Please talk to your doctor about vaccines and other ways to protect yourself from these viruses.

The only situation in which cancer can spread from one person to another is in the case of organ or tissue transplantation. A person who receives an organ or tissue from a donor who had cancer in the past may be at increased risk of developing a transplant related cancer in the future. But that risk is extremely low, about two cases of cancer per 10,000 organ transplants. Doctors avoid the use of organs or tissue from donor who have a history of cancer.

In today’s world, advancement has touched our lives with technology, science & medicine, yet, our MIND preaches the myths engulfing our society since ages. It is high time we break the Stigma. Love, Care, Affection and the feeling of TOGETHERNESS is what a Cancer patient needs, NOT ISOLATION…We are here for you..reach out to us if you need support. Together, We Can Bring The Change.

Also Read: Breast Cancer Screening, writes Dr. Lopamudra Das Roy

**Dr. Lopamudra Das Roy (M.Sc, Ph.D, MBA) is the Founder and President, Breast Cancer Hub. Original Article -© 2020 Breast Cancer Hub, All Rights Reserved.