Cancer patients are often turning to unproven or harmful treatments in December 2023, as Governments have increased警惕ity about misinformation online, according to a study and an article by cancer researcher Dr. Fumiko Chino. “Alarming” increases in misinformation have been reported in recent years, with the WHO stating that 6% of World Health Organization (WHO) members indicated they have seen false claims of cancer treatments affecting patients. oncologists described not enough patients surviving as intended, and many dying unnecessarily or as a result of cancer spreading.
Dr. Chino’s paper, co-authored with Dr. Richard Frello at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre, stated that misinformation about cancer has worsened in the past decade. It was linked to the increasing presence of aging populations, as more people are diagnosed with cancer, leading to a more significant public health issue. Among survey participants, half believed that experienced oncologists and doctors are contradicting each other, with a smaller percentage trusting doctors but a larger number feeling they lack trust.
Dr. Julie Gralow, as chief medical officer of Asco, called for shunning of surgery and chemotherapy, fearing they might not have been the right approaches. She described a case where a patient, searching for an all-natural treatment after a cancer diagnosis, made a non-surgical attempt. “‘In three months, they didn’t feel better. If something was wrong, I didn’t want to kill them,” she said. However, when she hinted at injecting them with vitamin C, facial zinc-based supplements, or raw milk, the patient “gradually started to feel less恶化,” but within a week, it deteriorated.
Liz O’Riordan, a retired breast surgeon, shares concerns about the lack of credible evidence in online health claims she received from women seeking cancer treatment advice. She exposed many of these claims as “mirror images of promising supplements” and questioned why such information is being spread. While some of her patients refrained from any treatment, others were prescribed “miracle” cures like countless “non-addictionals” or “miracle cures” such as mushrooms, CBD, or clarifyjas, including “blackMagic Seed extract,” according to O’Riordan. She argues that the delivery of such information was so damaging to patients’ trust that they neglected it.
At Asco, Dr. Richard Simcock expressed growing unease over misinformation online. He shared stories of young women who refused to undergo advanced treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation after cancer diagnosis, instead opting for “unproven” diets, such as caffeine enemas or raw juice diets. “‘I’ve recently seen… two young women who have declined all proven medical treatments… and are instead pursuing… unproven and radical diets… promoted on social media,” he said. Simcock believes that “very worrying” information has exponentially increased the spread of cancer misinformation.
Dr. Stephen Powis echoed this frustration, calling for more ethical treatment beyond the pharmaceutical slot in “miraculous” cures online. He argued that these “belief-driven” information attempts are often tactics to prevent patients from undergoing Procedures or treatment, but that they deplete trust in evidence-based medicine. Powis suggests that数据显示ing have side effects and that some cancer patients have “truly… dying quick,” pero no, he clarified, “we can’t promise a cure.” Whereas, he emphasized, the correct approach is to rely on reliable sources, such as the NHS website, to obtain accurate treatment information. He urged potential patients and caregivers to be skeptical when encountering such claims and to seek validation from their healthcare providers.