Last Updated on December 15, 2023 by Aditi Gangal
Quick Take
A social claim that the FDA has confirmed cancer treatments cause cancer. We fact-checked and found the claim to be mostly false.
The Claim
An Instagram post claims that the FDA acknowledged cancer treatments as contributors to causing cancer. Furthermore, the post alleges that all of Western medicine is deceptive.
We have attached a screenshot of the post below:
Fact Check
Is the claim made authentic?
Not exactly. No evidence says that the FDA has confirmed all cancer treatments cause cancer. We researched and found that the post contains a screenshot of the article published on The People’s Voice website.
This website often tells things on social media that are not true or confusing. For example, once they said the Dutch were killing people without their agreement, but we proved it was not true. Another time, they wrote something about Pope Francis supporting euthanasia, but that also turned out to be wrong. We looked more at this website and saw that many of the stories they write do not have any proof. The People’s Voice used to be called Newspunch, and for a while, they have been spreading made-up stories. They often share things that are not true or reliable.
Even this story is a similar case in which reality has been twisted to spread disinformation on social media. In this story, the article, of which a screenshot has been shared, discusses CAR-T therapies which are typically used in cases of advanced blood cancers such as lymphomas, lymphoblastic leukemia, or myeloma when other treatments do not work. The article does not talk about all cancer therapies.
The available research shows that CAR-T therapies can cause cancer. Now FDA press release only further discusses the same. The press release states that this group of drugs was already known to have a higher chance of causing cancers. They already carry a caution about it.
Do all cancer treatments cause cancer?
Some can. Cancer treatments, like radiation and chemotherapy, may sometimes lead to other cancers as a side effect. This risk varies based on the treatment type, drugs used, and individual factors. For example, radiation therapy can cause cancers in the treated area, and certain chemotherapy drugs might increase the risk of other cancers.
However, it is important to know that the benefits of cancer treatment usually outweigh these risks. Advances in treatment aim to minimize these risks while effectively treating the main cancer. The same has been confirmed by Dr. Sarthak Moharir, a Radiation Oncologist. He informs that while chemotherapy and radiation can cause second cancers, the benefits of these treatments are much higher than the risk of developing another cancer.
Patients getting cancer treatment should talk to their doctors about the potential risks and benefits. They should also have regular check-ups to watch for any new cancers or complications.
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