Crime of Fake "Cancer Cures"
- A man in Alabama has been charged with fraud after creating a homemade product which he sold to holistic cancer centers as a “cancer cure” for patients
- A study from American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) found that nearly 40% of Americans believe alternative medicine alone can cure cancer and other illnesses, but a study from Yale says those who choose alternative therapies as opposed to conventional treatment are more likely to die.
- More oncologists are incorporating integrative medicine into their practices while combining it with standard treatment.
Patrick Charles Bishop, 54, was indicted in Alabama after authorities discovered he was creating homemade “medicine,” and marketing the product as a “cancer cure” for patients to holistic cancer centers in the U.S. and Mexico. It’s unclear exactly what the ingredients were in this product, but according to the indictment, Bishop purchased one of the compounds from a Chinese manufacturer, promising them the compound was only going to be used for research. However, he used the compound to create these products and has been charged with fraudulently introducing adulterated drugs, creating false documentation, and more.
Read MoreKnow the Risks of Fake Cancer Cures
While many Americans may think alternative medicine is a substitute for standard treatment, the consequences can be dangerous. A Yale study, published by JAMA Oncology, found that people who pursue alternative therapy are more likely to die. Seeing as it’s become a popular route, more oncologists are incorporating integrative medicine into their practices without replacing standard treatment such as chemotherapy.
“Integrative medicine is an approach to care that puts the patient in the center of care and everything flows from that,” Dr. Brian Berman, Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, tells SurvivorNet. “It emphasizes lifestyle behavior, like diet, stress management, nutrition, and it also blends the best of conventional medicine and complementary therapies…It very much believes in the power of conventional medicine, but it’s trying to bring in other evidence-based approaches, and to optimize people’s health and well-being.”
Fake cancer “cures” often go viral on the internet, and even though Google and social media sites such as Facebook have promised to crack down on these posts and take them down, they still pop up often. It’s important to remember that not everything you read on the internet is credible or safe.
Dr. Jason Westin’s message to cancer patients: don’t believe everything you read on the internet
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
