An operation cannot cause a cancer to develop and will not cause a cancer to spread. In situations where this is unavoidable, the surgeon will often suggest chemotherapy or radiation therapy to destroy any microscopic cells that may have escaped from the tumor. People may believe in this myth because after surgery the patient will often feel sicker than before the operation. This is due to the normal post-operative recovery process. When you delay or refuse surgery because of this myth, you shortchange yourself, since the complete removal of a cancer still offers the best chance for cure.
People generalize about chemotherapy and tend to believe that all chemotherapy treatments are alike.
Approximately 40 anti-cancer drugs are now in use. Each of these drugs has different side effects, from very mild ones to those which are more difficult to cope with. Regardless of their severity, side effects can be controlled with other medications or with behavioral treatments, such as relaxation training. Nausea is an example. Not all chemotherapy causes nausea, but if you are taking medication that causes nausea, you will be given additional drugs to keep this under control.