Factfinder Tool - Cancer FactFinder

CLAIM: COVID-19 vaccines cause cancer

What you may have heard COVID-19 vaccines can cause cancer or increase the aggressiveness of existing cancers. What the science tells us The overwhelming body of scientific evidence indicates that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and do not cause cancer. Major health organizations and multiple studies support this conclusion. Epidemiological Evidence: Laboratory Evidence/Supporting Evidence: IARC Carcinogen…

CLAIM: Cannabis oil can cure cancer

Lifestyle Medical Issue or Treatment

Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Cannabis oil is a natural cure for cancer. What the science tells us Cannabis oil, extracted from the cannabis sativa plant, can be found in various products such as oils, roll-ons, vaping solutions, and edibles. It contains cannabidiol (CBD), which, unlike THC (another component of cannabis), does not affect the…

CLAIM: Apricot seeds treat cancer

Diet & nutrition

Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Apricot seeds cure cancer by targeting cancer cells and leaving normal cells unharmed. What the science tells us Apricot seeds contain amygdalin, a natural substance. Laetrile is a partly synthetic form of amygdalin. It is sometimes referred to as vitamin B17, though it is not actually a vitamin. Pharmaceutical companies…

CLAIM: Apple cider vinegar (ACV) can treat or prevent cancer

Diet & nutrition

Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard There are claims that apple cider vinegar (ACV) can treat or prevent cancer. This belief is based on the idea that ACV can create a more alkaline environment in the body, making it less hospitable for cancer cells to grow. What the science tells us In chemistry, the pH scale…

Apples (some unpeeled, some peeled) next to a small fabric-covered jar of apple peels in liquid.

CLAIM: Tampons (with Titanium dioxide) cause cancer

Consumer products

Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard You may have seen a viral TikTok video claiming that tampons contain an ingredient called titanium dioxide, which is responsible for increasing the risk of cancer. What science tells us Titanium dioxide is used as a pigment in the thread attached to tampons. Less than 0.1% of titanium dioxide is…

CLAIM: Disposable chopsticks cause cancer

Consumer products

Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Commercially manufactured disposable chopsticks contain cancer-causing chemicals. What science tells us The claim that disposable chopsticks contain aflatoxin, a known carcinogen, is unproven. Aflatoxins are chemicals produced by certain fungi and are found on agricultural crops such as corn, peanuts, and tree nuts. People may be exposed to aflatoxins by…

CLAIM: Insect repellents with DEET cause cancer

Consumer products

Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard The use of bug spray with DEET can cause cancer. What science tells us Much of the concern about insect repellents is with one of its most common ingredients: N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, known commonly as DEET. DEET gives bug spray its strong chemical smell, which is used to repel biting insects, such…

CLAIM: Antiperspirants and deodorants increase the risk of breast cancer

Consumer products

Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Antiperspirants and deodorants contain cancer-causing substances that are absorbed, particularly after shaving. What science tells us Antiperspirants are classified as a drug that helps reduce the amount of sweat produced. The eccrine gland produces sweat and antiperspirants can block the production of sweat using an aluminum-based product (WebMD). Deodorants are…

CLAIM: Wearing bras can cause breast cancer

Consumer products

Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Wearing bras causes cancer. What science tells us Epidemiological Evidence There has been concern that bra-wearing changes how lymph nodes remove waste and toxins from the breast. However, there is no epidemiological evidence to support this claim. The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle interviewed over 1,000 women with…

CLAIM: Cell phone use causes cancer

Consumer products

Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Keeping your phone close to your body or head can increase your risk of cancer. What science tells us Phones emit RF (Radiofrequency) waves, which are a form of non-ionizing radiation. This means that they do not have enough energy to directly damage DNA inside cells and cause cancer (ACS,…

Woman holiding a cell phone up to her ear

CLAIM: Standing near a microwave while using it causes cancer

Consumer products Diet & nutrition

Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Standing too close to the microwave can increase your risk of developing cancer. What science tells us Microwaves do not emit enough radiofrequency radiation to be harmful to humans (ACS). Microwave ovens are designed so that the microwave radiation is contained within the oven itself. The oven only creates microwaves…

CLAIM: Microwaving (or freezing) food in plastic containers increases cancer risk

Diet & nutrition Consumer products

Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Heating plastic in the microwave or freezing plastic releases various harmful chemicals that may cause cancer. What science tells us Freezing tends to work against the release of chemicals. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health stated, “Chemicals do not diffuse as readily in cold temperatures, which would limit…

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