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Fact Finder Tool

Discover insights, research, and information to help you navigate cancer-related topics with confidence.

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Consumer products
Diet & nutrition
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CLAIM: Plastic water bottles cause cancer

Consumer products
Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Warnings have been posted about cancer risks from drinking from plastic water bottles. What science tells us There has been concern of cancer risks from potential exposure to diethylhexyl adipate (DEHA), diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), or bisphenol A (BPA) that may be found in plastic water bottles.The American Cancer Society has…

Close-up photo of plastic bottles of water

CLAIM: Shampoos with sodium lauryl sulfate cause cancer

Consumer products Occupational & environmental exposure
Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Shampooing with products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) cause cancer. What science tells us SLS is a cleaning agent and surfactant that is used in many personal care and cleaning products. Epidemiological Evidence While SLS chemicals may cause eye irritation (or eye damage in high-enough quantities) and skin irritation…

Woman in store aisle reading label on a product

CLAIM: Induced (medical) abortion causes breast cancer

Medical Issue or Treatment
Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Women who undergo induced medical abortions have a higher risk of developing cancer. What science tells us Hormone levels change dramatically during pregnancy and decrease a woman’s number of menstrual cycles, which affects breast cancer risk (ACS). Abortion is believed to interrupt the normal cycle of hormones during pregnancy. There…

Pills spilling out of a bottle near ultrasound photos.

CLAIM: Mask wearing causes cancer

Lifestyle
Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Mask-wearing increases the risk of cancer. What science tells us There is a vast amount of evidence showing that long-term mask-wearing has no effect on cancer risk. The first study to make this false accusation about masks has been discredited by many other studies (Moffitt Cancer Center). The American Lung…

Woman wearing a face mask

CLAIM: Sitting too close to the TV causes cancer

Lifestyle
Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard The Daily Mirror published a story in 2003 claiming that sitting too close to the TV for prolonged periods of time increases cancer risk. What science tells us Older TVs gave off low levels of radiation, but modern TVs are built with proper shielding, so people are protected from potential…

Young child sitting right in front of a television, staring into the screen.

CLAIM: Burnt marshmallows can cause cancer

Diet & nutrition
Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Consuming burnt foods or burnt marshmallows increases the risk of developing cancer. What science tells us Marshmallows are composed of a majority of sugars. They are eaten alone, but sometimes are roasted over a fire to make s’mores. Many chemicals are found in burnt food including acrylamide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons…

3 singed marshmallows on sticks in front of flames

CLAIM: Coffee causes cancer

Diet & nutrition
Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Coffee consumption can increase your risk of cancer. What science tells us Epidemiological Evidence Coffee drinking is not a cause of breast, pancreatic, or prostate cancer and may even reduce the risk of endometrial, head and neck, colorectal, and liver cancers (ACS) . There is also evidence that drinking coffee…

Cup of coffee next to a bag of coffee beans that are spilling out

CLAIM: Ketchup ingredients (MSG and high-fructose corn syrup) cause cancer

Diet & nutrition
Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Ketchup contains high-fructose corn syrup and MSG for flavoring and sweetness.  You may have heard these ingredients cause cancer. What the science tells us Numerous studies have shown that high-fructose corn syrup is harmful to your health, increasing your risk of weight gain, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and high…

Ketchup packets

CLAIM: Spicey potato chips cause cancer

Diet & nutrition
Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard A story from 2013 of a 10-year-old girl with extreme stomach distress became front-page news after her physician attributed her sickness to eating spicy chips. The physician said that the harsh chemicals in these chips cause corrosion in the throat and stomach, causing stomach ulcers and potentially throat cancer. What…

Spicy chips

CLAIM: Hazelnut spreads with palm oil causes cancer

Diet & nutrition
Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Products that contain palm oil, namely hazelnut spreads, are one of the most recent foods to be flagged as potentially carcinogenic. What science tells us Products containing palm oil, which can contain 3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters (3-MCPD) and glycidyl esters (GE), have been flagged as possibly carcinogenic but only when heated 392…

Up-close picture of hazelnuts

Claim: Aspartame causes cancer

Diet & nutrition
Definitely or most likely not true

What you may have heard Aspartame consumption can cause cancer. What science tells us With rising competition to make food sweet and appealing, as well as lower in calories, many companies switched from normal sucrose (table sugar) to sugar substitutes or artificial sweeteners like aspartame, one of the most widely used artificial sweeteners. Aspartame is…

Glass of diet cola with a straw and ice sitting on a bar.