Article: FDA busts myths of preventing and treating cancer by eating apricot kernels, herbs, and other ingredients
Summary
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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This article is most relevant for People diagnosed with or concerned about their risk for cancer
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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 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 ’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 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 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 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 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 and a person’s own health care providers.
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References
Fox M. “ Warns of 14 ‘Fraudulent’ Cancer Cure Companies.” NBC News. Published online first on April 25, 2017.
Ashley DD and Stearn D. “ 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:
Breast cancer survivors
Metastatic cancer
Ovarian cancer survivors
People with a genetic mutation linked to cancer risk
Triple negative breast cancer
Newly diagnosed
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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 .
- 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
Endorsed since 2017 by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) guidelines recommend the following evidence-based integrative therapies:
- Music therapy, meditation, stress management, and yoga for anxiety/stress reduction.
- Meditation, relaxation, yoga, massage and music therapy for depression/mood disorders.
- Meditation and yoga to improve overall quality of life.
- Acupressure and acupuncture for reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Updated: 12/22/2021
Questions to Ask
- 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 are looking at integrative medical care for people diagnosed with cancer.
- NCT03449511: Aromatherapy for Integrated Cancer Care. The purpose of this clinical trial is to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of aromatherapy in relief of commonly reported symptoms in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
- NCT02754752: Electroacupuncture Therapy in Reducing Chronic Pain in Patients After Breast Cancer Treatment. This will look at how well electroacupuncture therapy works in reducing chronic pain in patients following surgery for I-III breast cancer. Electroacupuncture therapy is a type of complementary integrative medicine in which pulses of weak electrical current are sent into certain points in the skin.
- NCT04095234: Integrative Medicine for Pain in Patients With Advanced Cancer Trial (IMPACT). This study will compare the long-term effectiveness of acupuncture versus massage in people living with advanced cancer. The study will test how the two approaches compare in helping people with pain and its related symptoms and improving quality of life.
- NCT05053230: A Study Evaluating the Integrative Medicine at Home (IM@HOME) Program in People With Gynecologic Cancer. This study will look at whether the Integrative Medicine at Home (IM@Home) program can help reduce patients' symptoms (such as tiredness, pain, or insomnia). The IM@Home program offers virtual (online rather than in-person) group classes focusing on mind-body practice.
- NCT04837820: The Effect of Acupuncture on Cancer-Related Difficulties. The purpose of this study is to test whether acupuncture can improve difficulties and insomnia in survivors of breast cancer.
- NCT04917796: The Effect of Electroacupuncture on Nerve Pain Caused by Chemotherapy (Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy. The purpose of this study is to learn if Electroacupuncture can improve peripheral neuropathy pain caused by chemotherapy in cancer survivors.
- NCT02871752: Reducing the Effects of Cancer Active Surveillance Stress, Uncertainty and Rumination Thru Engagement in Mindfulness Education. We will examine the efficacy of couples-based mindfulness-based stress reduction on positive and negative psychological responses to active surveillance with a sample of men on Active Surveillance and their spouses.
- NCT03581357: Mobile Mindfulness Meditation to Improve Neuropathy in Cancer Survivors. The studies a mobile app for cancer-related neuropathy in people with breast, colorectal, endometrial, pancreatic, and other cancers, who have finished treatment and are experiencing neuropathy.
- NCT02831582: Omega-3 Supplementation to Prevent Aromatase Inhibitor-Induced in Patients With I-III Breast Cancer. This study looks at omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to prevent aromatase inhibitor-induced side effects in patients with I-III breast cancer.
- NCT03897556: Effect of High-Dose Guarana And Cancer-Related Fatigue. This research will examine the effectiveness of a guaraná nutrition energy bar supplement on cancer-related fatigue based on scores from fatigue questionnaires.
- NCT04519879: White Button Mushroom Sup for the Reduction of in Pts With Biochemically Rec or Therapy Naive Fav Risk Cancer. This phase II trial studies how well white button mushroom supplement works in reducing prostate-specific antigen () levels in patients with cancer that has come back (recurrent) or has favorable risk and has not undergone any therapy (therapy naive).
Updated: 12/22/2021
Open Clinical Trials
The following are studies focused on nutrition and cancer prevention.
Multiple cancers
- NCT04125914: HEALTH4Families: Optimizing a Weight Management and Health Behavior Intervention for BRCA+ and Families. This trial studies how well weight management and health behavior intervention lower the risk of cancer in patients with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer mutations or mutations.
- Energetics and Lifestyle in Inherited Syndromes (ELLIE’s Study). ELLIE’s Project is designed to look at factors, such as weight, Body Mass Index, metabolism, dietary habits and activity levels that may affect cancer risk in people with inherited mutations linked to cancer.
- NCT05094466: Parent and Family Obesity Intervention in Reducing Obesity Risk in Racial Ethnic Minority Families. This compares the effects of parent/caregiver-focused programs to family-focused programs in reducing obesity risk in racial ethnic minority families.
Breast cancer
- NCT04374747: Fruit and Vegetable Intervention in Lactating Women to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk. This trial is for nursing mothers. This study will look to see if eating at least 8 to 10 daily servings of fruits and vegetables reduces breast cancer biomarkers.
- NCT03448003: Comprehensive Lifestyle Change To Prevent Breast Cancer. This trial looks at how well lifestyle changes work to prevent breast cancer. Premenopausal women 18 years and older with intact breast and ovaries are eligible.
- NCT03779867: Acute Exercise Intervention in Reducing Breast Cancer Risk in Healthy Participants (ACE). This trial at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle studies how well acute exercise in healthy participants reduces the risk of breast cancer in healthy participants.
Colorectal cancer
- NCT03550885: Diet Modulation of Bacterial Sulfur and Bile Acid Metabolism and Colorectal Cancer Risk. This study investigates colorectal cancer risk in African Americans who consume high amounts of taurine and saturated fat (e.g., animal-based diets) compared with those who consume low amounts of taurine and saturated fat (e.g., plant-based diets).
- NCT04192071: Virtual Human Delivered Nutrition Module for Colorectal Cancer Prevention. This study will develop and test an interactive nutrition module for use with colorectal cancer screening to learn which messages and graphics promote understanding of cancer risk and promote screening.
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: 12/05/2021
Open Clinical Trials
The following studies are looking at management of treatment side effects:
Multiple cancers
- NCT03581357: Mobile Mindfulness Meditation to Improve Neuropathy in Cancer Survivors. The studies a mobile app for cancer-related neuropathy in people with breast, colorectal, endometrial, pancreatic, and other cancers, who have finished treatment and are experiencing neuropathy.
- NCT01802346: Low Calorie Diet to Reduce Side Effects and Increase Response to Chemo in People With Breast or Cancer. This studies a low calorie diet to reduce side effects and increase response to chemotherapy in patients with breast or cancer.
- NCT02296450. Quality of Life (QoL) Assessment in Cancer Patients and Survivors With Dermatologic Conditions Using Dermatologic QoL Instruments. This large study is designed to see how skin conditions that are related to different kinds of cancer or cancer treatments affect a patient's overall well-being.
Breast cancer
- NCT04586530 Telehealth and Memory Study (TAMS). The overall purpose of this trial is to confirm the effectiveness of Memory and Attention Adaptation Training (a cognitive-behavioral therapy) as a treatment for chemotherapy-related dysfunction among breast cancer survivors.
- NCT02290834 Chemotherapy-induced and brain changes in older adults with breast cancer. The study will investigate abilities and brain images before and after chemotherapy to identify people at risk for side effects, and to better understand the effects of treatment on brain structure and function.
- NCT02793921: Exercise Program in Cancer and Cognition (EPICC). This trial will study whether exercise, initiated before beginning aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy, improves function in postmenopausal women with breast cancer.
- NCT04906200: Web-Based Symptom Monitoring and Self-Management Portal for Adolescent and Young Adult Breast Cancer Survivors. This compares a web-based patient-reported symptom monitoring and self management portal to standard therapy in young breast cancer survivors.
- NCT04049695: Improving Cognition After Cancer (ICAN). This study will test whether physical activity can improve cognition in breast cancer survivors and help the development of physical activity guidelines for cognition in breast cancer survivors.
- NCT04086875: A Text-based Tool to Improve Adherence to Hormone Therapy in Patients With Hormone Positive Breast Cancer. This trial studies how well text messaging works to improve adherence to hormone therapy in people with breast cancer.
- NCT03592771: THRIVE Breast Cancer App Study (THRIVE). This tests an app to improve patient-provider communication to improve symptom management and hormonal therapy adherence among people with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
- NCT02707471: Improving Well-Being for Breast Cancer Patients. In this study, women on hormone therapy will be assigned to one of two groups: 1) a self-management tool to improve adherence and symptom management, or 2) a general health education control group.
- NCT04837820: The Effect of Acupuncture on Cancer-Related Difficulties. This study will test whether acupuncture can improve thinking and insomnia in breast cancer survivors. This study will also look at insomnia's link to difficulties.
- NCT03996265: Bupropion in Reducing Cancer Related Fatigue in I-III Breast Cancer Survivors. This will study how well bupropion works in reducing cancer related fatigue in I-III breast cancer survivors. Giving bupropion may improve cancer related fatigue in breast cancer survivors.
- NCT02831582: Omega-3 Supplementation to Prevent Aromatase Inhibitor-Induced in Patients With I-III Breast Cancer. This study looks at omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to prevent aromatase inhibitor-induced side effects in patients with I-III breast cancer.
- NCT03879629: TrAstuzumab Cardiomyopathy Therapeutic Intervention With Carvedilol (TACTIC). Breast cancer patients receiving Herceptin or other HER2-directed therapy are at risk of heart damage. This study is looking at whether drugs called beta-blockers could help.
- NCT02666378: Imaging Markers of Subclinical Cardiotoxicity in Breast Cancer. This research study is evaluating the use of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMR) as a method of detecting early signs of damage to the heart that can be associated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer.
Colorectal cancer
- NCT04763174: An mHealth Symptom Management Intervention for Colorectal Cancer Patients (mCOPE). The study will look at a mobile health tool to meet the multiple symptom needs and stage-of-life challenges faced colorectal cancer survivors.
- NCT03186638: Low-Dose Ibuprofen to Improve Memory Issue in People on Chemo for Non-metastatic Colorectal Cancer. This will study how well low-dose ibuprofen works to improve memory in people on chemotherapy for stages I-III colorectal cancer.
Endometrial cancer
- NCT04713618: Changes in Pelvic Health, Sexual Function, and Quality of Life in Women With Pelvic Cancer Undergoing Radiation Therapy. This study looks at changes in physical measures and patient-reported outcomes of sexual function, intimacy, and quality of life.
- NCT04298827: Gyn Onc Prehab Study. This will study physical therapy, nutritional counseling, behavioral therapy versus physical therapy alone as part of a prehabilitation program. We will measure return of function after surgery, quality of life, patient satisfaction, and compliance.
Ovarian cancer
- NCT04533763: Living WELL: A Web-Based Program for Ovarian Cancer Survivors. This studies a group-based and web-delivered tool for ovarian cancer survivors in increasing quality of life and decreasing stress, depressive mood, anxiety, and fatigue across a 12-month period.
- NCT05047926: Prehabilitation for Advanced Ovarian Cancer Patients. Prehabilitation may improve peri-operative outcomes in patients undergoing cancer surgery. This study will look at structured activity for women undergoing chemotherapy to improve their physical state prior to surgical intervention and thus improve outcomes.
- NCT04262336: Evaluating Safety and Efficacy of DB-020 to Protect Hearing in Cancer Patients Receiving Cisplatin. This study will look at whether DB-020 administered via an injection in the middle ear prevents hearing loss in people who will receive high doses of cisplatin.
- NCT04525183: REVITALIZE: A Telehealth Intervention for Women With Advanced Ovarian Cancer and PARP Inhibitor-Related Fatigue. This study is testing whether a 6 week skills-based telehealth intervention can help ovarian cancer patients experiencing PARP inhibitor-related fatigue reduce the impact of fatigue on their daily life and activities.
cancer
- NCT03971591: Men Moving Forward: A Lifestyle Program for African-American Cancer Survivors (MMF). This study will look at Men Moving Forward (MMF), a community-based lifestyle intervention that supports adherence to nutrition and physical activity guidelines to promote improved body composition and lessen side effects of treatment.
- NCT03421782: Fatigue Interventions in Cancer (Exercise Intervention). This trial studies how well exercise with or without internet-based behavior therapy reduces fatigue in people with prostate cancer.
- NCT04393831: A Trial on Nerve Sparing Techniques Performed in Radical Prostatectomy The surgeon will remove the in a way that preserves the nerves and tissues that are typically removed during surgery. The study will assess recovery of urinary and sexual function of patients through questionnaires.
Updated: 02/25/2022
Find Experts
You can find a registered dietician in your area using the search tool from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Updated: 11/13/2021
Related Resources
The following organizations have resources related to integrative and compelementary care.
- FORCE related resources:
- Information: and integrative medicine
- XRAY category: Alternative treatments
- FORCE video: Complementary and Integrative Medicine (from 2021 conference)
- FORCE video: Complementary and Integrative Medicine for Symptom Management (from 2014)
- Unite for Her provides financial support for services that help improve the quality of life in people diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer.
- The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is part of the National Institutes of Health that researches practices and products that are not part of conventional medicine.
- How Safe is this Product or Practice? is a resource from NCCIH with results from research on complementary and integrative therapies.
- Be An Informed Consumer is a resource from NCCIH to help people become informed consumers of complementary medicine.
- Alerts, Advisories and Recalls from the and the FTC
Updated: 05/20/2022
Related Resources
The following resources focus on nutrition and cancer.
- FORCE nutrition resources:
- Information: Nutrition, Exercise and Weight
- XRAY: Reviews on Diet and Exercise
- Video: Diet and Nutrition
- Video: Nutrition and Supplements
- Video playlist: Nutrition and Exercise
- United States Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has links to national guidelines on nutrition and resources.
- The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) is an organization that translates research on diet and cancer risk into practical information for the public. They have tools to help people maintain a healthy diet, weight and exercise routine.
- The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a user-friendly, plain language website with tools for maintaining good nutrition and an active lifestyle.
- Nutrition.gov provides information for healthy eating, physical activity, food safety and healthy recipes. The site was developed by the US Department of Agriculture.
- Talk to Someone is a simulated conversation with a breast cancer survivor who provides guidance on diet and nutrition after breast cancer. This resource was was supported by the .
The following resources focus on nutritional safety.
- Alerts, Advisories and Recalls from the and the FTC.
- The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is part of the National Institutes of Health that researches practices and products that are not part of conventional medicine.
- How Safe is this Product or Practice? is a resource from NCCIH with results from research on complementary and integrative therapies.
Updated: 03/16/2022
Who covered this study?
CNBC
FDA warns of 14 ‘fraudulent’ cancer cure companies
This article rates 5.0 out of 5 stars