A post has gone viral on social media claiming that mistletoe can potentially cures cancer.
The cation reads, ‘Mistletoe cancer therapy is appropriate for almost all tumor diseases. You can start using mistletoe at any time – before or after surgery, as well as before, during, or after radiation, chemo-, hormonal, or antibody therapies.’
WHO describes cancer as a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body and/or spread to other organs.
https://www.who.int/health-topics/cancer#tab=tab_1
Fact Check
NewsMeter found the claim to be false.
What is mistletoe?
Mistletoe is a semi parasitic plant that has been used for centuries to treat numerous human ailments. It is used commonly in Europe, where a variety of different extracts are manufactured and marketed as injectable prescription drugs. These injectable drugs are not available commercially in the United States and are not approved as a treatment for people with cancer.
(Photo of mistletoe plant)
National Cancer Institute found that the use of mistletoe as a treatment for people with cancer has been investigated in clinical studies. Reports of improved survival and/or quality of life have been common, but many of the studies had major weaknesses that raise doubts about the reliability of the findings.
It also added, ‘the use of mistletoe cannot be recommended outside the context of well-designed clinical trials. Such trials will be valuable to determine more clearly whether mistletoe can be useful in the treatment of specific subsets of cancer patients.’
According to WebMD, ‘European mistletoe is possibly safe when used appropriately. But taking more than three berries or two leaves is likely unsafe and can cause serious side effects, including vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and liver damage. Do not take European mistletoe without the advice of your healthcare professional.’
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-917/european-mistletoe
It should be noted that, every kind of cancer is different, there’s no one-size-fits-all cure. But sometimes, people may say they are cured if their cancer seems to go away with treatment. But it’s not quite that simple.
WebMD further adds, ‘There are no cures for any kinds of cancer, but there are treatments that may cure you.’
