Claim: Miracle cures for cancer, including fasting, chanting mantras and homemade juice, kill cancer cells and cure cancer.
Fact: Cancer is not a single disease but a large group of diseases. There are many types of cancer treatment. Some people with cancer have only one treatment. But most people have a combination of treatments, such as surgery with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. There is, however, no scientific evidence to back the claim that miracle remedies like fasting, chanting mantras and homemade juices can kill cancer cells and cure cancer.
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, almost one in six deaths. In India, over 7 lakh new cancer cases are registered annually. Despite advances in early detection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and targeted therapies, survival depends heavily on timely evidence-based treatment.
However, alongside medical progress in cancer treatment, a parallel crisis has emerged: the spread of viral 'miracle cure' claims across social media. In a country like India, where traditional remedies are culturally embedded and digital access is expanding rapidly, such narratives can gain significant traction.
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Cancer miracle cure claims
Recently, Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai claimed that fasting can kill cancer cells. He further added that fasting for seven days will kill all cancer cells. Similarly, an Instagram post uploaded by theshivguru, a fan page, featuring Jagdish ‘Jaggi’ Vasudev, also known as Sadhguru, suggests that fasting kills cancer cells.
Several other viral claims include mantras to cure cancer. Some videos promote mantras for curing blood cancer and breast cancer, asserting that sages provided mantras in scriptures, while others claim that their mantras can cure all diseases.
Moreover, another miracle claims about curing cancer are juices and homemade remedies. The YouTube video explains how to prepare a homemade cancer treatment. A Facebook reel claims that pineapple and hot water can cure cancer, while another video promotes green juice for cancer patients, claiming it rapidly reduces cancer markers.
What science is saying about the miracle cures for curing cancer
Regarding the miracle claim about fasting killing cancer cells, there is no robust clinical evidence supporting that the claim. While some preliminary studies have examined the metabolic effects of fasting, the use of fasting as a standalone cancer treatment remains controversial and lacks substantial clinical validation. Moreover, fasting can also increase the risk of malnutrition in cancer patients, who are already vulnerable to weight loss and muscle wasting, reducing immune function and tolerance to treatment.
Another concern with fasting as a cancer treatment is its potential for malnutrition, particularly in cancer patients who are already at risk of weight loss and muscle wasting due to their disease.
Furthermore, regarding green juice and pineapple and hot water for curing cancer, there is no credible scientific evidence to support the claim that any special diet, food, vitamin, mineral, dietary supplement, herb, or combination of these can cure it.
“It’s important to know that there are no studies that prove that any special diet, food, vitamin, mineral, dietary supplement, herb, or combination of these can slow cancer, cure it, or keep it from coming back. In fact, some of these products can cause other problems by changing how your cancer treatment works,” says this report published in the National Cancer Institute.
In addition to this, there is no rigorous scientific evidence to show that chanting mantras can cure cancer.
The real-world consequences of miracle cure claims for cancer patients
One major consequence of miracle cure claims is delaying or abandoning evidence-based treatment. Research highlights that the use of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine (TCAM) is associated with significant delays in accessing conventional cancer care. Further studies document prolonged diagnostic and treatment delays among Indian breast cancer patients.
“Overall, early diagnosis and intervention is critical for effective treatment of many malignancies. Delays in presentation related to the use of TCAM may be an important factor relating to the high rates of advanced disease on presentation and low survival rates in the care of Indian cancer patients,” says the study published in PubMed.
Using unproven remedies in place of surgery, chemotherapy or radiation allows cancers to progress unchecked, lowering the likelihood of successful treatment. Extreme diets or prolonged fasting can worsen malnutrition and reduce immunity.
“The lack of large-scale human trials and the potential risks of malnutrition make fasting a complementary approach rather than a primary treatment strategy,” points out this study. “Further research is needed to fully understand the therapeutic potential of fasting in oncology and to identify the patient populations and cancer types that might benefit the most.”
Moreover, when cancer patients are persuaded to distrust doctors or reject evidence-based treatments, it erodes confidence in the healthcare system as a whole. This loss of trust can discourage people from participating in screening programmes, seeking early diagnosis, or adhering to scientifically validated therapies. Over time, such skepticism can weaken national cancer control efforts and reduce the effectiveness of public health initiatives aimed at prevention, early detection, and timely treatment.
According to WHO, cancer is a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body and/or spread to other organs. A correct cancer diagnosis is essential for appropriate and effective treatment as every cancer type requires a specific treatment regimen. Treatment usually includes surgery, radiotherapy, and/or systemic therapy (chemotherapy, hormonal treatments, targeted biological therapies).
Prompt consultation with a qualified doctor is essential to ensure timely diagnosis and the most effective, evidence-based care.
This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS