Don't Believe Everything You See About Cancer "Cures"

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Have you ever had friends or family members share advice such as this? “I was reading about a new cancer cure for sale on the Internet and thought you should know.” “Chemotherapy is just a way for the drug companies to get rich.”

Many people may have the best of intentions but, unfortunately, offer advice that isn’t helpful and can raise unnecessary doubts and fears. Having a new cancer diagnosis is traumatic and it’s important to have confidence in your treatment plan.

Before any FDA approved medical treatments are offered to the public they need to go through rigorous testing and clinical trials. Some of the cancer treatments found on the Internet are not supported by this process but rather use personal testimonials to encourage the reader to purchase their latest, greatest discovery for a cancer cure.

Cancer scams have existed for decades. Today, with the use of the Internet and social media, the ability to reach a vulnerable public has grown exponentially. So how do you know what to believe and what could be potentially dangerous?

Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

What does the author have to gain from my use or purchase of this product?

Are there scientific studies that support its use?

What are the potential side effects of its use?

Does my healthcare team approve of it?

Everyone in the medical community hopes that a cure for cancer is in our future and many brilliant minds are working tirelessly to make that happen. But as we have all heard in the past, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. So if someone suggests a questionable cancer treatment, do your homework and enlist the wisdom of your healthcare team to help with your decision.

How have you learned more about information that seemed questionable to you?

Reprinted with permission from www.mayoclinic.org. Sheryl M. Ness, RN, is a nurse educator for the Cancer Education Program at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Follow her on Twitter at @SherylNess1.