No. This is a fear held over from a different era of medicine. Today, many cancers are fully curable, especially when caught early. Even when cancer cannot be completely cured, it can often be treated and managed for years, keeping it under control so it doesn’t define your daily life. Like how diabetes and heart disease are managed. If you’ve just been diagnosed with cancer, think of it as the start of a fight, not the end of a life.

Cancer is a general term for a group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Every cell in our body has a life cycle. Cells are born, they do their job, then they die. This process is carefully controlled. Cancer begins when this balance is disrupted, causing certain cells to grow in an uncontrolled way and ignore the body’s normal signals to stop. These cells can accumulate and form a lump called a tumour (except in blood cancers, where cells multiply without forming a lump). Not every tumour is cancer. Some tumours grow locally and don’t spread. These are called benign tumours. What makes cancer serious is its ability to invade nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymphatic system. This spread is called metastasis, which is why early cancer detection and treatment can make a big difference.

Cancer rarely has a single cause. It usually develops over time when cells accumulate damage from factors such as tobacco use, alcohol, excess body weight, certain infections like HPV or Hepatitis B and C, environmental exposures, or genetic changes inherited through families. In most people, it is a combination of factors acting over many years. This also means that many risk factors for cancer are within our control… which is encouraging.

In some cases, cancer can be prevented. Around 40% of cancers worldwide are considered preventable. Avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting vaccinated against HPV and Hepatitis B can all help reduce cancer risk. Regular screening also helps by catching cancer before it becomes a problem.

Early cancer detection works through two channels. Screening: Tests like mammography, Pap smears, and colonoscopy can detect cancer before any symptoms appear. Self-awareness: If you feel a new lump, or if there’s an unexplained bleeding, or a cough that won’t go away, or unexpected weight loss, these should not be ignored. If you notice something that feels off, don’t wait. Detecting cancer early means we can treat it with simpler, less aggressive approaches.

Most cancers are not inherited. Only about 5–10% are strongly linked to genetic mutations passed through families. But family history of cancer still matters. If multiple close relatives have had cancer, especially at a younger age, that’s a pattern worth bringing up with us. We can refer you for genetic counselling, which helps you understand your individual cancer risk.

No, and this is a common concern that can sometimes delay people from starting cancer treatment. Chemotherapy includes a wide range of drugs, and side effects vary depending on the specific treatment used. Not all chemotherapy causes hair loss, and not all patients experience severe nausea. With modern supportive care, we can manage side effects far better than what was possible a generation ago. Many of our patients continue working, travelling and living their normal lives through treatment.

Smoking is the single biggest risk factor, but it’s not the only one that causes lung cancer. In our country, many rural households have exposure to indoor cooking smoke, urban population has exposure to high levels of air pollution. And on top of that, there’s exposure to passive smoking. If you have persistent respiratory symptoms, consult your doctor. They should be investigated regardless of whether you’ve ever smoked.

Many patients explore ayurveda, homeopathy or other traditional systems alongside their treatment, and we respect that these can provide comfort and a sense of control. But these approaches have not been shown to cure cancer in scientific studies. The concern arises when they are used instead of proven medical treatments, as this can delay treatments that are known to work. If you are considering alternative approaches, we encourage discussing them with your oncologist first.

There’s no single answer. It depends on the type of cancer, the stage and the treatment approach we choose together. Some treatments like surgery are one time interventions. Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles over weeks or months. Radiation therapy typically runs over several weeks. Targeted therapy or hormonal therapy can continue for years. What we try to do from the start is give you a clear roadmap so you’re well prepared for what’s to come. That may make it easier to plan your life around treatment, instead of putting your life on hold.

These are different cancer treatment options we use, sometimes alone and sometimes together. Chemotherapy uses medicines that attack rapidly dividing cancer cells throughout the body. Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams directed at a specific area to destroy cancer cells locally. Targeted therapy works more precisely. It identifies specific features of your cancer cells and attacks those, with generally fewer side effects. Immunotherapy works differently. It trains your own immune system to recognise and fight cancer cells. Which of these we recommend depends entirely on your specific diagnosis. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.

The possibility of cancer recurrence depends on the type of cancer, the stage at which we caught it, and how it responded to treatment. For many cancers, the risk of recurrence goes down as time passes. We manage this risk through regular follow-up appointments and monitoring, so that if anything does change, we catch it early. Living with this uncertainty is hard, but your oncologist and their team will help you through it.

In many cases, yes. Maintaining as much of your routine as possible during cancer treatment is something we actively encourage. It helps both physically and emotionally. There will be harder days… treatment days, spells of fatigue, but those are transient and will pass. We work with you to make sure the treatment fits into your life as much as possible, not the other way around.

Often, yes. Many of our patients travel between treatment cycles or during stable phases without difficulty. Whenever you have to travel, plan ahead as best as you can, carry your medical records & medications, keep your treatment schedule in mind, and make sure you have a point of contact if you need help while away.

Not necessarily. Not all cancers cause a lot of pain, especially in early stages. When pain does occur, we have many effective ways to manage it. From medications to nerve blocks to palliative interventions. If you are in pain, tell your oncologist. Seeking help managing your pain is not a sign of weakness. It helps you stay stronger through your treatment.

Cancer staging means how far the cancer has spread, and it helps us build the right treatment plan for you. Stage 1 generally means the cancer is small and localised. Stage 2 means it has grown but not spread far. Stage 3 means it has reached nearby lymph nodes or tissue. Stage 4 means it has spread to other organs. This is what’s called metastasis. A higher stage is more serious, but it is not a verdict. In some cases, even stage 4 cancer patients can live well for years.

Look for an oncologist or cancer specialist who communicates openly with you. You should never leave a consultation more confused than when you walked in. Seek care at a hospital or centre that has a multidisciplinary cancer care team: oncologists, surgeons, radiation specialists, and supportive care all working together. Ask questions freely. A good oncologist will welcome them. And if something doesn’t feel right, a second opinion is always reasonable.

This is a common misconception. Palliative care doesn’t imply giving up. Rather, it’s about living as well as possible. It focuses on managing pain, controlling symptoms and supporting your emotional and practical wellbeing at any stage of illness, not just at the end. In fact, research shows that patients who receive early palliative care alongside their treatment often do better.

Yes. In our experience, patients who understand their cancer diagnosis cope better, make more informed decisions, and build greater trust with their care team. We understand that in our families, the instinct to shield a loved one from difficult news comes from a place of love and concern. But sensitive and honest communication serves patients better in the long run.

There is no perfect script for this conversation after a cancer diagnosis, and it affects every family differently. What we generally find is that clear and calm communication brings families closer rather than pulling them apart. Children are often more perceptive than we give them credit for. Age appropriate honesty works better than hiding from them. If you’re finding these conversations overwhelming, your oncologist can connect you with a counsellor who works specially with cancer patients and families.

Cancer treatment can be financially challenging, but there are multiple forms of financial support for cancer treatment available in our country. These include government insurance schemes, hospital-based assistance programs, NGOs and crowdfunding options. Depending on your situation, you may be entitled to coverage under government health schemes, subsidised or free treatment at public cancer centres, or financial assistance from charitable foundations. The right option for you depends on your circumstances, and your doctor and their team can help you figure that out.

Yes, many cancer survivors go on to have healthy children after treatment. Some cancer treatments can affect fertility, which is why we have this conversation before starting treatment when it’s relevant. In such cases, options like sperm banking or egg and embryo freezing (fertility preservation) give you choices for the future.

This is one of the most difficult questions we get asked, and there is no single right answer. The first thing to understand is that most cancers are not hereditary. Many do not pass from parent to child. Only a small subset involve inherited genetic mutations, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 in breast and ovarian cancer, or Lynch syndrome in colorectal cancer. If your cancer falls into this category, we can refer you for genetic counselling, where a specialist will help you understand the actual probability of passing that mutation on. And keep in mind, even with a hereditary cancer risk, it is not a certainty that the next generation will get cancer. It just means that their risk of developing cancer is higher. For those with a known hereditary risk, there are also options. Preimplantation genetic testing during IVF can screen embryos before pregnancy. We will walk you through these choices when relevant. What we want you to know is this… having cancer does not automatically mean you will pass it to your children, and it does not mean you should surrender the idea of a family.

We recommend discussing genetic testing for cancer risk if: You have a first-degree relative, like a parent, sibling, or child, who has had cancer, especially at a younger age than usual. Multiple members of your family, across generations, have had the same or related cancers. You’ve been diagnosed with certain cancer types that have a stronger hereditary association, like breast, ovarian, colorectal and pancreatic cancer among them. The ideal person to test first is someone in the family who has actually had cancer, either in the past or currently undergoing treatment. If a genetic mutation is found in them, we then have a clear target to look for in other family members. If no such family member is available, then you can get tested, but only after a proper genetic counselling session so you understand what the results can and cannot tell you. This counselling step is very important. A positive result for a cancer-related genetic mutation does not mean cancer is inevitable. And a negative result does not mean your risk is zero. Context is everything, and a genetic counsellor will help you interpret the results. If a mutation is found, it may even be relevant for your children, siblings and other family members who may want to consider testing themselves. It opens a conversation, and such conversations can sometimes save lives. So if something in your family history worries you, discuss it with your doctor.

It depends on where you are in your treatment. Breastfeeding from an unaffected breast may be possible in some cases. But during chemotherapy or some targeted therapies, it’s not safe. These medicines can pass to the baby. There’s no single answer here that applies to everyone. This is something you should discuss with your oncologist, who can guide you based on your specific situation.

During active treatment like chemotherapy or radiation, your body needs consistent nutrition and hydration, and we generally advise against fasting during these periods. During more stable phases, it may be possible. Please discuss with your doctor before taking up fasts.

Over the years in my practice, I’ve come across a lot of beliefs that people hold about cancer. In our country, cancer carries decades of widespread fear, half understood information and even some well-intentioned advice passed down the generations. Some of it is true. Some is wrong but harmless. And some of it actively stops people from getting the treatment they need. This part is what concerns me the most. Here are the ones I want to address directly. Cancer is NOT contagious. You cannot catch cancer from another person by touching them, sharing food, or being in the same room. Cancer patients need closeness and support, not distance. Eating non-vegetarian food DOES NOT cause cancer. There is no scientific evidence that it does. A balanced diet that includes these foods is safe, and during treatment, adequate protein from any source actually helps your body recover. Cutting sugar will NOT starve cancer. There is a myth that it does. Probably because in a PET CT scan, we use a glucose-based dye to detect cancer cells because they absorb it quickly. And probably this has led some people to believe that eating sugar directly feeds cancer growth. But all cells in your body, healthy and cancerous, use glucose for energy. Cutting out sugar will not stop cancer from growing, though there might be other benefits from that. A cancer diagnosis is NOT a punishment for past sins, karma, or something the person did wrong. This is perhaps a belief that causes the most silent suffering. Cancer is a biological disease. It is not a moral judgement. No one deserves cancer. And shame has no place in this conversation. Biopsy and surgery DO NOT cause cancer to spread. A belief that it does leads people to delay or refuse procedures that are essential for cancer diagnosis and treatment. This myth probably exists because certain abdominal cancers, like early-stage ovarian cancer, can involve a capsulated tumour where puncturing the capsule during biopsy can lead to disease spread in the entire abdomen. This is exactly why we would never advise a biopsy for a capsulated tumour. When we recommend a biopsy, we have already determined it is safe to do so. Turmeric, neem, or other home remedies have cultural significance, and some compounds are being studied in research settings, but none have been proven to cure cancer. Using them in place of cancer treatment can cost precious time. If you’ve heard something about cancer that worries or confuses you, discuss it with your doctor. No question is too small, and no belief is too embarrassing to raise.