Fact check: ‘Cancer update’ claiming to come from Johns Hopkins Hospital is a hoax

The claim: Johns Hopkins Hospital released a statement on recommendations for stopping cancer

A viral text post being shared by social media users claims that Johns Hopkins Hospital issued a “cancer update” explaining how the disease spreads and alternative methods for treatment. 

“AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY,” starts a March 7 Facebook post.

The post claims Johns Hopkins said cancer cells do not show up in standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion; cancer cells occur between six to more than 10 times in a person’s lifetime; a strong immune system destroys and prevents cancer cells; cancer indicates nutritional deficiencies; and diet changes and supplements will strengthen immune systems. 

The text goes on to claim chemotherapy involves poisoning rapid growing cancer cells while causing organ damage and that radiation damages healthy cells, tissues and organs. 

Purported recommendations from Johns Hopkins include cutting off sugar and milk, eating fish, fresh vegetables, juice, seeds and nuts and avoiding caffeine, among others, according to the post 

USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user for comment.

Fact check:  California’s COVID-19 vaccine plan doesn’t give priority to homeless people, prisoners

Post is falsely attributed 

In response to the claims, Johns Hopkins Medicine released a statement saying it did not issue this information and that a similar hoax email has been circulating since 2004. 

“Johns Hopkins did not publish the information, which often is an email attachment, nor do we endorse its contents,” the statement reads, encouraging people to read information on its site or the National Cancer Institute site. “The email also contains an incorrect spelling of our institution as ‘John’ Hopkins; whereas, the correct spelling is ‘Johns’ Hopkins.”

The statement notes that anonymous authors commonly attribute their work to respected research institutions in an attempt to gain credibility, similar to the “Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins.” 

“The gist of this viral email is that cancer therapies of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy do not work against the disease and people should instead choose a variety of dietary strategies,” Johns Hopkins medicine wrote, adding that traditional therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy are effective. 

Fact check:  No, Coca-Cola does not get rid of head lice. That’s a myth.

Johns Hopkins debunks content in post

The various claims included in the post such as everyone having cancer cells, a strong immune system destroying cancer and taking supplements to prevent cancer have all been confirmed as hoaxes by Johns Hopkins in its authentic statement. 

Elizabeth Jaffee, co-director of cancer immunology and leading expert on cancer and the immune system at Johns Hopkins, said, “When it comes to cancer and the immune system, it is not a matter of strong or weak as the fictional report contends, but rather an issue of recognition.”

She added that the cancer cell disguises itself as a normal, healthy cell. 

Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson says while supplements help mediate vitamin deficiencies, taking any additional doses provides no extra benefits. 

Nelson also said that chemotherapy and radiation therapy kill cancer cells “with remarkable selectivity” and limiting common side effects of hair loss and low blood counts are part of treatment. 

In the statement, experts further add that while a poor diet and obesity associated with a poor diet is a risk factor for the development of cancer, there is no evidence that certain foods can cause cancer to die or grow. 

Claims surrounding cancer treatments and prevention have been previously debunked by USA TODAY.

Fact check:  Face masks do not cause bacterial pneumonia

Our rating: False

A statement claiming to be a “cancer update” from Johns Hopkins University is FALSE, based on our research. Johns Hopkins Medicine said that the institution is not connected to the statement and confirmed that the recommendations included in the post are all hoaxes. 

Our fact-check sources: 

• Johns Hopkins Medicine, Accessed March 6, “The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Update Email — It’s a Hoax! “
• USA TODAY, June 21, 2020,  “Fact check: There is no evidence asparagus can cure cancer despite longtime claim”
• USA TODAY, June 23, 2020, “Fact check: Exposure to aluminum through food does not cause neural issues or cancer”
• USA TODAY, Nov. 11, 2020, “Fact check: Masks won’t give you lung cancer; some masks do include chemicals”

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

Source: Read Full Article