Why our fears don't always match the facts
Fear of cancer can lead to choices that are harmful all by themselves. Doctors, who swear to "Do no harm," are finally recognizing the harms of what has been called cancerphobia.
Medicine is beginning to recognize how fear of cancer leads to choices that feel right, but do more harm than the disease itself.So many of the choices we make are made to reduce the risk of cancer. But our fear is in some ways excessive, and some of those choices do more harm than good. Our fear of cancer is in some ways outdated, excessive, and harmful: a phobia. Understanding the history and psychology of that fear, and recognizing its harms, can help.Our fear of cancer is in some ways outdated, excessive, and harmful—a phobia. Understanding the history and psychology of that fear, and recognizing its harms, can help.
Another new potential carcinogen, aspartame, is in the news. Only this time, unusually, the news media has reported on the latest cancer scare with caution and context.Fear of cancer drives many of us to screen for the disease, but few realize that screening may harm as well as help. Opposition to the release of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima clean-up into the ocean is based on fear that flies in the face of the facts, and vastly exceeds the risk.Our deep fear of cancer, developed decades ago, is now outdated, and doing great harm all by itself. Warnings about reductions in cancer screening because of COVID are one example.
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