Last Updated on April 1, 2024 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A YouTube video asserts that the external application of castor oil can aid in getting rid of malignant breast tumours. We analysed it and found that the claim is Mostly False.
The Claim
In a 2016 two-hour video on natural remedies, Barbara O’Neill, the controversial claimant, asserts that when applied, castor oil compresses can penetrate deeper than other types of oils. The video claims that using castor oil as a compress can help eliminate lesions, bumps, lumps, and congestion.
The YouTube video exaggerates the therapeutic benefits of castor oil compresses and how they heal the affected area. In addition to other body regions, it is recommended to apply a compress of castor oil to the breast area. Consequently, it makes a convincing case for how the procedure helps remove breast cysts and malignant breast tumours. The video goes on to say that the oil can be used to cure kidney stones, gallstones, fibroids, and other conditions.
Several unsubstantiated claims are circulating on various social media platforms asserting that deodorants and underwire bras might lead to breast cancer. We have meticulously verified the accuracy of these assertions.
Fact Check
What does the phrase ‘cancerous breast tumour’ imply?
Breast cancer, also referred to as malignant tumours of the breast, is one of the most prevalent cancers among women globally. The condition manifests as abnormal cell proliferation in the breast tissue. These tumorous growths, which originate in the breast cells, have the potential to spread to other body organs if left untreated.
Although the exact cause of breast cancer is unknown, certain risk factors are known to exist, such as environmental triggers, hormonal fluctuations, lifestyle changes, and genetic mutations.
Breast cancer can manifest in several ways. Therefore, the symptoms could vary. Nonetheless, a lump or mass in the breast or underarm region may be one of the main indicators of breast cancer. These growths have the potential to alter the breast’s size or shape. Accompanying the growths may be skin changes like redness, dimpling, puckering, or discharge from the nipples. It should be stressed that clinical breast exams and diagnostic mammography are essential for the patient’s survival and the effectiveness of the treatment.
Therefore, it is essential to understand the implications of a cancerous breast tumour, emphasising the necessity of prompt identification and comprehensive management in combating the condition.
Do cancerous breast tumours respond well to castor oil?
No, absolutely not. This is due to the lack of substantial evidence supporting the notion that castor oil compress alone could eradicate breast tumours including both cancerous and benign.
However, castor oil’s significant ricinoleic acid content has led to research on its possible therapeutic properties. This is because ricinoleic acid and castor oil have a propensity to penetrate deeply into the skin and may even improve other chemicals’ transdermal penetration. As a result, some castor oil formulations, such as paclitaxel with polyoxyethylated castor oil, are being used as a component along with conventional chemotherapeutics to manage breast cancer.
Even though castor bean derivatives are comparatively a safe option and research on their potential for cancer treatment is currently ongoing, their potential adverse outcomes further limit their use. Therefore, employing castor oil for addressing breast cancer necessitates caution.
When we asked Dr. Rakesh Kumar Sharma, MBBS, MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology), about the effectiveness of castor oil in treating breast cancer, he replied that “people are looking for alternative treatments because they are afraid of side effects from the cancer treatments, especially chemotherapy, and sometimes even because they are in a financial bind. Even if it might be a natural option, there isn’t any strong proof to support the use of castor oil as a treatment for breast cancer.”
Although castor oil is used because it contains a lot of ricinoleic acid, it is not without its drawbacks. Dr Sharma further informed, “There are several factors that influence cancer treatment, such as cancer type, stage, and patient preferences. One must, therefore, strictly follow the treatment plan that your oncologist and their team have formulated. Please be advised that treating breast cancer with only natural products, such as castor oil, may result in treatment delays and poor outcomes.”
Dr Sharma also suggested that “breast cancer is of multiple subtypes, some of which have good survival even in stage 4 disease with oral hormonal therapy. So don’t just get swayed by the cancer diagnosis; cancer treatment has been revolutionised in the past few decades, and the best is yet to come. Please trust and follow your oncologist’s advice.”
Furthermore, it is imperative to emphasise that the management of breast cancer is dependent on a multitude of factors. These factors include the type and stage of the cancer, as well as the patient’s preferences. Treatment options mainly include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of all these. Therefore, it is critical that patients who have been identified as having breast cancer consult with their doctor to receive the appropriate diagnosis and course of treatment.
How should cancerous breast tumours be addressed?
A multimodal approach is required for the management of malignant breast cancers. This is typically customised to meet each patient’s specific needs. The therapeutic regimen consists of medications intended to shrink or eradicate the tumour, stop it from spreading, and lessen the likelihood that it will return. This ultimately establishes the benefits of both local and systemic therapy for breast cancer.
The principal therapeutic modalities include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. The recommended courses of action are still surgery-based treatment for early-stage breast cancer and chemotherapy-based systemic treatment for metastatic breast cancer. The standard method for treating breast cancer, both in its early and advanced stages, was further transformed with the advent of immunotherapy and targeted therapy. However, the choice of treatment is influenced by the patient’s choices, overall health, and the kind and stage of the cancer.
Multidisciplinary teams made up of radiologists, surgeons, oncologists, and other medical specialists work together to establish an efficient treatment plan because the nature of cancer therapy is transformable. Please be mindful that addressing breast cancer necessitates more than a holistic and individualistic approach to cancer care, in addition to routine treatment and follow-up.
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