“Cancer always means you’ll die” — WRONG
- Many people survive cancer, especially if it’s found early. Doctors now have better treatments than ever before.
“People with darker skin can’t get skin cancer” — WRONG
- Anyone can get skin cancer. The sun (and sunbeds) can damage skin no matter your skin colour.
“Cancer is catching” — WRONG
- You can’t “catch” cancer like a cold. It doesn’t spread from person to person.
“Cancer is always someone’s fault” — WRONG
- Cancer can happen for many reasons — including your genes, your environment, and sometimes things we can’t control.
“If I’ve had the HPV vaccine, I don’t need smear tests” — WRONG
- The HPV vaccine doesn’t protect against all HPV types, so you still need regular cervical screening when you’re old enough.
“Cervical screening is painful” — Not usually
- Some people feel a bit uncomfortable. You can ask the nurse to use a smaller tool if you’re worried.
“You need to look a certain way ‘down there’ for a smear test” — WRONG
- The nurse doesn’t care what your body looks like. They just need to collect enough cells for the test.
“Boys don’t need the HPV vaccine” — WRONG
- The HPV vaccine is for boys and girls aged 12–13. It helps protect against several cancers, including some that affect men.
“Men don’t get breast lumps” — WRONG
- Men have breast tissue too. If you find a lump, see your GP.
“Only old people get cancer” — WRONG
- People of all ages can get cancer, though it’s more common as you get older.
