Published Jun 29, 2020

Fake Cancer Cures Still Running Rampant On The Internet — Google, Facebook Monitoring Efforts Fall Short

Bitter melon and vitamin C are two fake cancer cures that have gone viral. However, with no scientific evidence to back them up, these fraudulent alternative remedies can be extremely dangerous.

Shelby Black

Details

Beware Of Fake Cancer Cures

Fake cancer cure posts are still appearing on the internet, despite Google, Facebook, and Twitter stating they plan to eliminate their ad space
Nearly 40% of Americans believe alternative medicine can cure cancer
People who choose alternative therapies over conventional treatments are twice as likely to die as opposed to those who go through conventional treatment
Experts tells SurvivorNet that people should talk to their doctor about treatment options found online in order to understand how viable they are based on the data

Many of us in the cancer community have seen claims on the internet that certain foods can “cure” our disease. Bitter melon is the latest fake cancer cure that’s gone viral across. The claim here is that eating hot bitter melon can destroy cancer cells. With no evidence it back it up, these declarations can be deadly.

In January 2019, a Facebook post from Thailand claimed eating bitter melon can cure cancer, and was shared over 400 times on Facebook and Twitter. The caption stated that eating hot bitter melon affects cysts and tumors to cure cancer, and it will destroy all cancer cells. This isn’t the first time this claim has surfaced on the internet, as it popped up online also in 2009 before being taken down. In response to the misleading information, Thailand’s National Cancer Institute has released numerous statements debunking the claim.

This post isn’t necessarily surprising. For years, the internet has been home to people claiming products such as asparagus, bitter melon, apricots, high-dose Vitamin C, and baking soda injections can help prevent or cure cancer. These are often called “alternative therapies” or “alternative medicine,” and despite Facebook and Google announcing that they plan to crack down on these fake cancer cure ads and posts, new claims pop up often and circulate widely. It can often take months for these posts to be taken down, or given a warning tag. Oncologists say this kind if dangerous content is sometimes embraced by people who forgo traditional therapies in favor the false hope, with tragic consequences.

Dr. Elizabeth Comen says there’s no concrete evidence which proves Vitamin C can cure cancer

If These Cancer Cure Claims Are Wrong, Why Are They So Popular?

Despite experts constantly debunking fake cancer cure claims, these ads and posts still attract huge interest. A 2018 national survey from American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) found that n early 40% of Americans believe that alternative therapies can actually cure cancer, with the majority being younger adults.

It’s important to know that the consequences can be deadly. A study from Yale University, which was published by JAMA Oncology, found that people who choose to go through alternative therapies are twice more likely to die than those who undergo conventional treatment such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. There are many reasons why people choose alternative therapies instead of traditional options. Oncologists say fear of the commonly known side effects of chemotherapy is a big factor.

Ask Your Doctor For Help Evaluating A Cancer Treatment

When you receive a cancer diagnosis, most people turn to the internet to answer questions they have or to cope with anxiety they’re experiencing. However, when it comes to credible treatment options, doctors warn that open conversations with your doctor are critical in receiving the most effective care.

“When someone’s diagnosed with cancer they and their loved ones will get on the internet and try and find what’s the cure, [but] sadly, there is a lot of information on the internet that’s not well-curated and sounds great and perhaps too good to be true,” says Dr. Jason Westin, leader of the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma research team at MD Anderson Cancer Center. “I would say, make sure, if you’re finding information on the internet about something that sounds too good to be true, talk to your doctor about it and see what they think before you try some alternative treatment that may cost a lot of money and may not give you the results that you want.”

Dr. Jason Westin explains why searching the internet isn’t the best way to find cancer treatment

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.