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Article: FDA busts myths of preventing and treating cancer by eating apricot kernels, herbs, and other ingredients

Maggie Fox (NBC News) writes about a new FDA report that warns of 14 "fraudulent” cancer products claiming to either cure or treat cancer (1). The companies that sell these products claim that many of them also prevent cancer, but are they safe or effective? (6/26/17)

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Most relevant for: People diagnosed with or concerned about their risk for cancer.

It may also be relevant for:

  • people with breast cancer
  • people with metastatic or advanced cancer
  • people with ovarian cancer
  • people with a genetic mutation linked to cancer risk
  • people with triple negative breast cancer
  • people newly diagnosed with cancer

Relevance: High

Quality of Writing: High

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Who covered this study?

CNBC

FDA warns of 14 ‘fraudulent’ cancer cure companies
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Contents

False claims                 Clinical trials
What does this mean for me?     Questions for your doctor                
Guidelines Resources and references
   

 

WARNINGS AT A GLANCE

The United States Food and Drug Administration () sent warning letters to 14 fraudulent cancer cure companies. Apricot kernels, herbs and other ingredients are the focus of Maggie Fox’s NBC News coverage of the FDA actions.  

A cancer diagnosis of an individual, family member or friend is challenging and can cause extreme distress; people diagnosed with cancer may be desperate to try anything and vulnerable to these companies’ claims to “cure” or “treat” cancer. The companies making these inaccurate are a danger and represent an injustice to the people they claim to help.  

FALSE CLAIM:  “If a person eats 6-12 apricot kernels per day, they will never have to worry about cancer.”

This false claim is advertised on one of the companies’ websites. Cancer patients and their families may be vulnerable and more willing to put skepticism aside if they hear or read that something can cure cancer. But these companies go further than that. According to a blog post written by the FDA’s Donald Ashley, JD and Douglas Stearn, JD, “These companies use slick ads, videos, and other sophisticated marketing techniques, including testimonials about miraculous outcomes. Often a single product was promoted as a treatment or cure for multiple diseases in humans and animals (2).”

However, these products have not been FDA tested. Claims that they cure or treat cancer are fake, and they are potentially dangerous. As Maggie Fox writes, “…’Everything Herbs’ was advertising apricot kernels, which contain deadly cyanide. Apricot seeds were the basis for amygdalin (laetrile), an unproven but popular “alternative” cancer therapy sold online and in overseas clinics since the 1970s, despite much evidence it is worthless.”

The FDA issued warning letters to 14 companies regarding their fraudulent claims about their products: AIE Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Amazing Sour Sop, Inc.; BioStar Technology International, LLC; Caudill Seed & Warehouse Inc.; DoctorVicks.com; Everything Herbs; Hawk Dok Natural Salve, LLC; Healing Within Products & Services, Inc.; LifeVantage Corporation; Nature’s Treasure, Inc.; Oxygen Health Systems, LLC; Sunstone, Inc.; The Vibrant Health Store, LLC (dba Dr. Christopher’s Herbs); and The Vitamin C Foundation (3).

What does this mean for me?

The FDA is responsible for “Protecting the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, quality, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products, and medical devices.” Drug companies seeking FDA approval to sell a new drug are required to test it in many ways, from early experiments done a laboratory to seeing if the drug is safe and effective for use in humans.

Additionally, clinical guidelines have not been written for any of these products. As defined by the Institute of Medicine, clinical guidelines are “…systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances (4).” These guidelines are made after enough high-quality research studies are completed that support the use of the products in question. For example, many researchers and physicians from different academic institutions would have agree that eating 6-12 apricot kernels a day would prevent cancer for the guidelines to incorporate this practice.

Being diagnosed with cancer or experiencing a loved one going through cancer is difficult, and it is inappropriate, illegal and unethical for companies to promote products that have not been proven to be safe or effective. But because companies like these exist, cancer patients and their loved ones should be sure to confirm that the products or treatments they hear and read about are critically examined by trusted resources, such as the FDA and a person’s own health care providers.

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References

Fox M. “FDA Warns of 14 ‘Fraudulent’ Cancer Cure Companies.” NBC News. Published online first on April 25, 2017.

Ashley DD and Stearn D. “FDA Takes Action Against Fraudulent Cancer Products.” U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Published online first on April 25, 2017. 

FDA: Illegally Sold Cancer Treatments

Disclosure

FORCE receives funding from industry sponsors, including companies that manufacture cancer drugs, tests and devices. All XRAYS articles are written independently of any sponsor and are reviewed by members of our Scientific Advisory Board prior to publication to assure scientific integrity.

This article is relevant for:

People diagnosed with or concerned about their risk for cancer

This article is also relevant for:

  • people with breast cancer
  • people with metastatic or advanced cancer
  • people with ovarian cancer
  • people with a genetic mutation linked to cancer risk
  • people with triple negative breast cancer
  • people newly diagnosed with cancer

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Expert Guidelines

Dietary Supplements

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines on survivorship include the following recommendations on dietary supplement use:

  • Taking dietary supplements is not recommended for most cancer survivors unless a patient has a known nutritional deficit, an inadequate diet or other indication (for example, ).
  • Little data exist to support the use of vitamins or other dietary supplements for cancer prevention, control or recurrence.
  • Taking vitamin supplements does not replace the need for a healthy diet. Patients should try to get nutrients from the foods they eat and the beverages they drink.
  • Providers should ask about supplement use at regular intervals, about a patient’s reasons for using supplements and the ingredients in those supplements.
  • Survivors of certain cancers are at risk of vitamin deficiencies based on cancer treatment (e.g., gastric cancer patients who have had a gastrectomy may be at risk of vitamin B12 and iron deficiencies).
  • NCCN recommends calcium and vitamin D supplements for people who have been prescribed denosumab or a bisphosphonate to treat bone or osteoporosis.
  • Patients taking multiple supplements and those in need of nutritional support should be referred to a registered dietitian or nutritionist, preferably one who is trained in supporting oncology patients. 

Updated: 05/20/2022

Expert Guidelines

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) endorses the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) guidelines recommending the following evidence-based integrative therapies for reducing fatigue, pain, anxiety and depression.

Fatigue

To reduce fatigue during cancer treatment, the SIO recommends:

  • Exercise
  • behavioral therapy (CBT) uses exercises and skills to reduce symptoms
  • Mindfulness-based programs
  • Tai chi, a Chinese martial art, is composed of gentle, low-impact exercises while focusing on deep, slow breathing
  • Qigong is a Chinese practice using movement, body posture, breathing and meditation to optimize energy within the body, mind and spirit.
  • American ginseng, an herb 
  • Psychoeducation, an intervention for patients and their loved ones provides information and support to better understand and cope with illness

To reduce fatigue after cancer treatment the SIO recommends:

  • Exercise
  • CBT
  • Mindfulness-based programs
  • Yoga
  • Acupressure
  • Moxibustion (a type of therapy that involves burning the leaves of mugwort—a small spongy herb—close to the skin)

    CBT and mindfulness-based programs are particularly effective for managing moderate to severe fatigue after treatment.

Pain

To reduce pain, the SIO recommends:

  • Acupuncture for aromatase inhibitor-related joint pain
  • Acupuncture, reflexology or acupressure for general cancer pain or musculoskeletal pain
  • Hypnosis for patients who experience pain after a procedure
  • Massage for patients experiencing pain during

ASCO provides guidelines on the use of opioids to reduce pain in cancer patients:

  • Should be offered to patients experiencing moderate-to-severe pain from cancer or cancer treatment
  • Starting dose should be the lowest possible
  • For patients with substance use issues, clinicians should collaborate with a palliative care, pain and/or substance use disorder specialist(s)
  • Patients should be monitored for adverse effects

Anxiety

To reduce anxiety during cancer treatment, the SIO recommends:

  • Mindfulness-based programs, yoga, relaxation, music therapy, reflexology and aromatherapy (using inhalation)

To reduce anxiety after cancer treatment, the SIO recommends:

  • Mindfulness-based programs, yoga, acupuncture, tai chi or qigong and reflexology

Depression

To reduce depression during treatment, the SIO recommends:

  • Mindfulness-based programs, yoga, music therapy, relaxation and reflexology.


To reduce depression after treatment, the SIO recommends:

  • Mindfulness-based programs, yoga, tai chi or qigong.

Updated: 07/02/2024

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

  • What are my treatment options?
  • Are there any supplements that I can take to help me prevent or treat my cancer? 
  • I'm taking herbal or dietary supplements, will these interfere with my treatment?
  • I'm taking herbal or dietary supplements, are any of these harmal?
  • I am having treatment side effects, are there any natural therapies that I can try? 
  • Can you refer me to an integrative medicine expert?

Open Clinical Trials

The following studies look at integrative medical care for people diagnosed with cancer:

Multiple cancer types

Breast cancer

Gynecologic cancer

Prostate cancer

Updated: 01/30/2025

Open Clinical Trials

The following studies focus on nutrition and cancer prevention:

Colorectal cancer

  • NCT05396846: My Best GI Eating Study. This study tests three diets in people who are overweight and who have an increased risk of colorectal cancer. 

Visit our Featured Research Page and Research Search and Enroll Tool to find additional studies enrolling people with or at high risk for cancer.

Updated: 05/29/2024

Open Clinical Trials

The following studies look at the management of side effects: 

Multiple cancers

Breast cancer

Colorectal cancer

Ovarian cancer

Prostate cancer

Updated: 03/11/2025

Find Experts

The following resources can help you locate a nutritionist near you or via telehealth

Finding nutritionists

  • You can find a registered dietician in your area through Eatright.org, the website for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Search for nutritionists by specialty, including "cancer," "weight management" and "heart health."

Related experts

  • The Livestrong at the YMCA program includes a free 12-week membership and fitness training with certified exercise experts. You can search by zip code for a program near you.  

Other ways to find experts

  • Register for the FORCE Message Boards and post on the Find a Specialist board to connect with other people who share your situation. 
  • The National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers have specialists to manage the symptoms and side effects of cancer prevention or treatment. 
  • FORCE partners with Savor Health® to provide free, personalized, evidence-based nutrition support 24/7 and “on-demand" through their text-based Intelligent Nutrition Assistant (Ina®). You can subscribe here.

Updated: 11/20/2023

Related Resources

The following organizations have resources related to integrative and complementary care. 

Updated: 01/30/2025

Related Resources

The following resources focus on nutrition and cancer:

The following resources focus on nutritional safety.

 

Updated: 11/04/2024

Who covered this study?

CNBC

FDA warns of 14 ‘fraudulent’ cancer cure companies This article rates 5.0 out of 5 stars

How we rated the media