Cancer is not caused by parasites

Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells multiply uncontrollably and spread to surrounding tissues.

Messages circulating on social media claim that the U.S. government has declassified documents stating that cancer is caused by parasites. Some messages also claim that the cure for cancer, ivermectin, is known and that it is being hidden from us so that companies can profit.

However, this is false. Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells multiply uncontrollably and spread to surrounding tissues. Furthermore, users reference a 1951 CIA document declassified in 2014 that summarizes a Soviet article published a year earlier on biochemical similarities between parasitic worms and tumors, but it does not state that cancer is caused by parasites or that the cure is... ivermectin.

What is cancer and what causes it?

The term "cancer" encompasses more than 200 diseases. Their common denominator is the uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal cells that, over time, acquire the ability to invade surrounding tissues and spread to other organs. Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) explain that “these cells can form malignant tumors that invade nearby tissues and organs, or spread to other parts (metastasis).” 

From the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona They indicate that the reason why a person develops cancer is unknown, "but some of the factors that can increase the risk of developing it, known as risk factors, have been investigated." Some can be modified, such as smoking, "while others are not modifiable, such as age or family history," they point out. However, having one risk factor, or even several, does not mean having the disease. 

Where does misinformation come from?

It's common to find content that attempts to oversimplify the origin of cancer by attributing it solely to the presence of parasites. Hence, messages like this one, claiming that cancer is caused by parasites, circulate periodically on social media. In this case, users attribute the content to alleged CIA documents declassified in 2014.

However, documents They summarize a Soviet article published a year earlier in a journal about biochemical similarities between parasitic worms and tumors, but they don't say that cancer is caused by parasites. Nor do they say that a cure for cancer is known and that "they are hiding it from us."

What is known is that certain infectious germs, even virus, bacteria y parasitesThese can cause cancer or increase the risk of developing cancer. “Some viruses can disrupt the signals that normally control cell growth and proliferation. Also, some infections weaken the immune system, making the body less able to fight other cancer-causing infections. And some viruses, bacteria, and parasites also cause Chronic inflamation which can lead to cancer,” they point out. United States National Cancer Institute (NIH, for its acronym in English).

“Some bacteria can produce toxins, enzymes, and other molecules that disrupt normal cellular functions, interfere with cell cycle control, and alter the host's immune response, contributing to the development and progression of cancer. For example, 89% of all gastric cancers are attributed to the infection by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori"And it is known that eradicating this infection reduces the incidence of the tumor," they indicate from the Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragon).

Ivermectin does not cure cancer 

According to the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS)Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug used in both animals and humans. Dr. Rodrigo Sánchez-Bayona, scientific secretary of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) and medical oncologist at the 12 de Octubre Hospital in Madrid, pointed out in this article that “ivermectin is a widely used and approved antiparasitic drug for treating parasitic infections in humans and animals. In humans, it is used to combat diseases such as onchocerciasis (river blindness), strongyloidiasis, and, in some cases, lice or scabies infections.”

Regarding cancer, current research on antiparasitic drugs and cancer, focusing on drugs like ivermectin, is limited to laboratory (in vitro) and preclinical studies, with no evidence that it works in humans. Currently, there is a clinical trialA study is underway to analyze the efficacy of combining ivermectin with immunotherapy (balstilimab) in patients with triple-negative breast cancer. It is currently in the recruitment phase.

However, this expert adds, ivermectin has not been approved by health organizations to treat cancer at any stage, including stage IV (the most advanced stage of the disease).

No, they are not hiding the cure for cancer from us.

Some people claim there's a conspiracy to hide a cure for cancer so we'll remain sick and pharmaceutical companies can profit. However, this is false. So why hasn't a cure for cancer been found? Because cancer isn't a single disease. There are more than 200 different types of cancer, each with its own variations and subtypes. For example, the HPV vaccine and screening programs have allowed for the early eradication of cervical cancer. Pancreatic cancer, on the other hand, remains extremely difficult to cure. 

Thus, although cancer incidence is increasing—more than 300,000 new cases are expected in Spain by 2026, 2% more than in 2025—survival rates are also rising, exceeding 55% in men and 61% in women, according to the [unclear/unclear/etc.]. Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM). This phenomenon is due to improvements in treatments, personalized medicine, and early diagnosis. 

INFOVERITAS verifies that…

Cancer is not caused by parasites. Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells multiply uncontrollably and spread to surrounding tissues.

Source: Infoveritas