When Hope Turns Harmful: What People Still Get Wrong About Cancer
Have you ever heard of Belle Gibson? No? What about Elizabeth Holmes? You might have come across their stories through viral posts or drama series like Apple Cider Vinegar or The Dropout. One pretended to have cancer and sold fake “natural cures.” The other claimed she could test for hundreds of diseases using just a drop of blood. Both were exposed as frauds. And yet, millions believed them.
It is a reminder that even in today’s information age, cancer myths and misinformation still spread fast. Sometimes, it is fear. Sometimes, it is hope. Sometimes, it is someone trying to make a quick buck off people who are desperate for answers.
We asked a few of our colleagues at Cancer Research Malaysia to share the most absurd or outrageous cancer myths and stories they have heard or experienced personally. Here is what they told us:
Dr Jananezwary Kanapathy, Head of Community Outreach
One of the most common myths I hear is that a cancer diagnosis means death. It doesn’t. Many cancers today are treatable, especially when detected early. People do survive and go on to live full, healthy lives but this myth causes unnecessary fear and delays in getting help.
Another one I hear all the time is about ‘alkaline water’ curing cancer. The idea is that cancer is caused by the body being too acidic and that drinking alkaline water can balance things out. But science just doesn’t back this up. Your body already works hard to regulate its pH levels. Drinking alkaline water won’t change that or stop cancer.
Nur Dinie Junaidi, Digital Health Research Associate
A common one I see online is the belief that cancer treatments like chemotherapy are actually meant to poison you or make you worse. It is heartbreaking how many people delay or avoid treatment because of this.
My late mum had kidney disease, not cancer, but I saw the same pattern. She came across some posts claiming treatments would make her worse. That made her hesitate, and as a result, she got help too late. The experience really stuck with me.
People like Belle Gibson and these wellness influencers can be dangerous. They might look harmless, but they prey on fear. And it sets back years of science and progress.
Hani Zainal, Community Outreach Nurse Navigator
“If you wear a bra to sleep, you will get breast cancer. The wires block your lymph nodes and toxins build up. It is science!”
My cousin believed this for years. She would wake up in the middle of the night in a panic if she forgot to take her bra off before bed. Then she read an actual medical article.
Surprise: there is zero evidence linking bras to breast cancer. None. Just another myth that caused unnecessary stress.
Dr Mohd Suffian Azizan, Genomics & Bioinformatics Postdoctoral Scientist
My late father passed away from renal cell carcinoma about ten years ago. Like many in our community, he leaned towards prayer and alternative remedies instead of seeking medical care.
At one point, he started drinking durian belanda juice, a popular so-called cure. Even after his diagnosis, he still believed in some juice products being sold in Facebook groups. I don’t say this to blame him. But it’s a painful reminder that misinformation has real consequences.
At the time, I already had a degree in genetics, but I couldn’t protect the people I love from false hope. And that’s the challenge we face, not just curing cancer, but making sure people trust science, get regular check-ups, and follow through with proper treatment.
Intan Liyana Jamaludin, Senior Communications Executive
I have an uncle who doesn’t believe in modern medicine, at all. I still remember when his younger brother was diagnosed with severe diabetes. The doctors said they had no choice but to amputate his leg. My uncle was the first to object.
Then, when a close friend of his was diagnosed with cancer and needed chemotherapy or radiotherapy, same thing. He wasn’t supportive.
When we asked him why, he said, “During the time of Prophet Muhammad, did anyone cut off legs or use radiation to treat illness?”
His advice? Same old, same old. Drink spirulina. Eat bitter gourd. Take some herbal tonic or superfood.
It was only much later that they started listening to REAL doctors. I’ll never forget what this doctor once said, “It’s true that during the Prophet’s time, we didn’t have things like amputations or radiation. But that’s exactly why God gave us something powerful, our brains. With brains come talents. With talents come knowledge. And with knowledge, we find ways to help people, whether it’s discovering new medicines, developing better treatments or saving lives in ways they couldn’t back then.”
So, how do we avoid falling for these myths?
Well, let’s be honest. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. With so much information online, it can be hard to tell what’s real and what’s just noise. But here are a few things that can help:
- Start by asking where the info is coming from. Is it from a doctor, researcher or a credible health organisation?
- Look for proof. Real medical advice usually comes with solid research, not just personal stories or dramatic before-and-after photos.
- Watch out for miracle cures. Cancer’s not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. If someone claims one drink, pill or treatment can cure it all, big RED FLAG.
- If in doubt, ask a doctor. NOT Google. NOT your family’s WhatsApp group. A trained healthcare professional can help you sort fact from fiction.
- Do not let fear make the decisions for you. Fear spreads fast but facts save lives. Science might not always be flashy, but it works.
If you believe in science over scare tactics, support our work.
Donate to Cancer Research Malaysia and help us fight misinformation with facts.
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