Recently, a tweet went viral in which a netizen pointed out the myth versus reality of some products that we use on a daily basis. From the sun to sunscreens and diet products we use every day can cause us cancer, the post on X left netizens shocked. In the post, user Tracy Smith wrote that ‘the reality is very different from what is portrayed’. “People I’m telling you. You need to start looking at the ingredients of everything you buy. It will save your life. Do yourself a favor – be sensible because once you know, you know,” the tweet read.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Meghal J Sanghvi, Surgical Oncologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central, debunked these theories and offered her comments.
Viral post:
Tracy commented that contrary to what we believe – that the sun can give us cancer – the opposite is true. The sun actually helps protect us from cancer.
Oncologist’s comment:
Natural sunlight is necessary for vitamin D production, and about 20-30 minutes of natural sunlight per day is beneficial for health. However, excessive exposure to sunlight over a long period of time can be harmful, especially for fair-skinned individuals who lack the melanin pigment. Indians, who have more melanin pigment, are better protected from harmful sun rays and have a lower risk of developing skin cancer than the white population.
Tweet:
Tracy Smith wrote that sunscreens contain chemicals that cause cancer.
Oncologist’s comment:
Sunscreens provide protection but should only be applied when necessary, such as during prolonged sun exposure. Excessive use of any artificial creams that contain chemicals can be harmful.
Tweet:
X user wrote that we believe diet products are healthy, but according to them diet products contain aspartame, which can cause brain cancer.
Oncologist’s comment:
Although the ingredients in food products themselves are not harmful, the preservatives used during packaging can be harmful. Therefore, it is best to consume locally available, seasonal and natural food.
Tweet:
We get mammogram scans done every year to prevent cancer, but on the contrary, mammograms expose us to cancer-causing radiation.
Oncologist’s comment:
Annual mammograms for women over the age of 40 can help detect breast cancer early and are recommended for high-risk populations. For average-risk populations, mammograms can be performed once every 18 months. There are no adverse side effects to this frequency of mammograms; believing otherwise is a myth.
Tweet:
Fluoride is a neurotoxin and cannot protect our teeth.
Also read: World Lung Cancer Day: Is smoking the only cause of lung cancer? 9 myths busted
Oncologist’s comment:
Moderate use of fluoride protects teeth. Brushing your teeth once a day is recommended, and proper gargling after meals is usually sufficient. Brushing your teeth after every meal is unnecessary and potentially harmful.