World Cancer Day is celebrated on February 4 every year, and the theme of the 2014 World Cancer Day is “Debunk the myths! We can’t do anything about cancer, and cancer cannot be treated effectively. By eliminating people’s misconceptions about cancer, we can gradually achieve early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer and effectively promote the development of cancer prevention and control. According to academician Hao Xishan, president of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, the results of a survey conducted by the World Union Against Cancer (UICC) in 42 countries around the world on the public’s perception of “having cancer is equal to death” show that 43% of people in our society think this view is correct, while only 13% of people in western countries think this view is correct. In Western countries, only 13% of people think this view is correct. Avoiding talking about cancer is the first of many misconceptions about tumors. In China, due to the influence of traditional culture, people are often reluctant to talk about cancer, especially when the topic involves them, and keeping quiet is the choice of most people. In fact, scientific and healthy discussion and understanding of cancer-related knowledge is very beneficial to cancer patients themselves, their families and the whole society to improve the current situation of cancer prevention and control more effectively. Secondly, most people think that cancer has no obvious symptoms and is difficult to be detected at an early stage. In fact, many tumors have their own unique “signals”, and knowing and mastering these early warning symptoms can have obvious benefits for early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment of tumors. Take the breast cancer patients treated by Tianjin Breast Cancer Center as an example, more than 90% of breast cancers detected in early stages (stage 0 and stage I) can be cured, while the effect of middle and late stages is slightly worse, and the cure rate drops to about 70% and 50%. Therefore, early detection of tumor is one of the important means to improve the survival rate of patients. Thirdly, many patients and their families, when faced with cancer, seem helpless. At present, the most effective way to reduce the incidence of tumor is etiological prevention, i.e. primary prevention. At least 40% of tumors can be prevented by proactive prevention and intervention and by maintaining a scientific and healthy lifestyle. The World Health Organization suggests that one-third of malignant tumors can be prevented, one-third can be cured and one-third can be treated. The fourth misconception is that cancer is not effectively treated. The research results of oncology are changing rapidly, and some patients can be cured and the quality of survival of other patients can be improved to different degrees through reasonable and effective standardized diagnosis and treatment of tumors that were considered “incurable” in the past. However, there are still some tumor patients who could have received better treatment due to medical and economic conditions, but did not receive the treatment they deserve. Therefore, it is crucial to increase and pay attention to the investment in oncology prevention and treatment in the social security system covering the health of all people.