The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a warning to cancer patients regarding “bogus cancer cures” after charging five companies for “making false and misleading claims for cancer cures.”
Lydia Parnes of the FTC stated that her organization has joined with the Food and Drug Administration and formed a consumer education website known as CURE-IOUS, which aims to inform cancer patients about questionable cancer treatment and cures.
In regards to the five companies that were recently charged for misleading consumers, Parnes said that there “is no credible scientific evidence that any of the products marketed by these companies can prevent, cure, or treat cancer.” The products sold by the guilty companies included teas, ointments and “mushroom extracts.”
An FDA spokesperson said that his organization is fearful that cancer patients may rely only on unfounded alternative treatments and pass on traditional methods of cancer treatment, such as chemo or surgery. However, a combination of the traditional methods and certain alternative treatments, such as nutritional supplements or acupuncture is sometimes recommended by doctors. The inclusion of alternative treatments, however, are simply a secondary method of controlling pain and symptoms.
A physician specializing in cancer treatment, including oncologists who work with mesothelioma cancer patients, can provide the most accurate information regarding treatment methods.
