Breast Cancer

Are castor oil compresses a proven effective treatment for tumors and breast cancer? No, that's not true: There is no scientific evidence that suggests castor oil has therapeutic benefits beyond its approved laxative properties. Claims that castor oil compresses cured breast cancer and uterine fibroids, as well as treated tumors, are purely anecdotal stories from a former naturopath barred from…

Was "vitamin" B17 prohibited for its "cancer-killing properties"? No, that's not true: The only thing it is known for is its ability to cause cyanide poisoning, not to treat cancer. Also, what social media refers to as a "vitamin" is not a vitamin. The claim appeared in a video published on Facebook on March 1, 2023. A male narrator began:…

Did Robin Roberts, the longtime co-host of ABC Television's "Good Morning America" (GMA) die on January 30, 2023? No, that's not true: As of February 1, 2023, Roberts remained alive and well, and actively posting on Instagram from New Zealand. The post implying that she had died is a ruse to get readers to an ad for CBD products. The…

Can illness caused by milk be identified simply by looking at one's iris without medical equipment? No, that's not true: Iridology -- a theory that a person's iris can tell about their medical conditions -- has long been proven unfounded, and there is no scientific consensus that pasteurized milk may be harmful. The claim appeared in a video published on…

Is a Parmesan cheese flavor additive toxic? No, that's not true: Two food science experts told Lead Stories it can be dangerous in large amounts because it contains butyric acid, but the amount of the acid allowed in Parmesan is no cause for alarm. Butyric acid naturally occurs in the body and aids in digestion. The claim, which appeared on…

Do root canals cause cancer? No, that's not true: An endodontics resident told Lead Stories that root canals do not cause cancer. The American Association of Endodontists says that the 2019 documentary that made this claim is guilty of spreading misinformation. The claim appeared on TikTok (archived here) on December 6, 2022, with the caption "#duet with @mrbetyoudidntknow #fyp." The…

Did actress Shannen Doherty die on December 6, 2022? No, that's not true: The claim was made without credible, publicly available corroborating evidence. "She is fine," her agent told Lead Stories. Donerty is best known for roles she played in a "Little House On the Prairie" television series and Beverly Hills, 90210. The claim appeared in an article published by…

Do seed oils, not the sun, increase the risks of skin cancer? Was skin cancer "basically non-existent before seed oils"? No, that's not true: Ultraviolet exposure is one of the major factors that may lead to skin cancers, as well as genetics. Seed oils are not known for increasing risks for this disease, as a board-certified dermatologist confirmed to Lead…

Is soursop fruit 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy? No, that's not true: Soursop has not been proven in any clinical trials to be stronger than chemotherapy to any degree. According to a cancer professor at Harvard, this is "not a plausible statement and there's nothing to back it up." The claim appeared in an Instagram post on October 29, 2022.…

Does a heavy consumption of grapes reverse kidney failure and cancer? No, that's not true: An expert told Lead Stories it is "false that grapes alone can treat and reverse cancer and kidney failure." While early small studies suggest that grapes contain antioxidants that may be beneficial to human health, there is no proof that eating grapes -- or grape…