Skin cancer patients should beware of products available online that fraudulently claim to prevent and cure cancer, including melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products often are marketed as natural treatments or dietary supplements. They have not gained FDA approval and therefore are not proven to be safe or effective. Rather, they can cause more harm to patients and delay the effects of conventional cancer treatments.
Firms that illegally market fraudulent cancer treatments often use exaggerated unsubstantiated claims to promote their products. The FDA has provided consumer health information with several phrases that consumers should recognize as warning signs for fraudulent cancer treatments:
- “Scientific breakthrough”
- “Miraculous cure”
- “Ancient remedy”
- “Treats all forms of cancer”
- “Skin cancers disappear”
- “Shrinks malignant tumors”
- “Nontoxic”
- “Doesn’t make you sick”
- “Avoid painful surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or other conventional treatments”
- “Treat nonmelanoma skin cancers easily and safely”
- “Target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone”
Undocumented case histories or personal testimonials from patients or physicians claiming amazing results; suggestions that a product can treat serious or incurable diseases; and promises of no-risk, money-back guarantees also are signs of health fraud.
The FDA has cited black salves as one of the fake cancer remedies that have proven to be harmful. In a June 2015 Cutis article “ Black Salve and Bloodroot Extract in Dermatologic Conditions ,” Hou and Brewer reported an increased popularity of self-treatment with black salves in curing skin cancers and healing other skin conditions due to extensive advertising of its effectiveness. According to the FDA, black salves are sold with false promises that they will cure melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers by “drawing out” the disease from beneath the skin. However, Hou and Brewer warned that some black salves contain escharotics such as zinc chloride and bloodroot, which could cause damage to healthy tissue.
“Despite the information and testimonials that are widely available on the Internet, black salve use has not been validated by rigorous studies,” the authors reported. “[It] is not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration, resulting in poor quality control and inconsistent user instructions.”
Dermatologists should be aware that skin cancer patients may be attracted to alternative treatments such as black salves. Health care professionals should educate patients about fraudulent cancer treatments versus investigational treatments.
For a complete list of fake cancer cures consumers should avoid, consult the FDA .