Cancer conspiracy theories: some of them are pretty wild

I was tempted to save this thread and post it as a Friday Humor, due to its account of the amazingly bizarre things that some people actually seem to believe about so many different topics, cancer being one of them. But it is a serious topic worth of serious discussion at any time.

And it's true that we do seem to be living in an Age of Conspiracy, on all sorts of topics, especially political ones. But medical ones are by no means immune to the genre of conspiracy accusation.

(And BTW, after reading through them, I don't believe the articles below drift off into the political, they just report the odd conspiracy beliefs that some people actually espouse regarding cancer).

Here's an article which showcases a number of what are apparently the more prominent conspiracy theories regarding cancer. Some are already well-known ("Big Pharma Suppresses Natural Cancer Cures") ("Cancer Is a Fungus, and Can Easily Be Cured"). But some others have apparently circulated less, and can be reviewed in this account of them:

https://www.ranker.com/list/cancer-conspiracies/mike-rothschild

Some article highlights:

"One of the most prominent theories is that there's a cure for cancer, kept on the shelf by the government and Big Pharma, who rake in so much cash treating the disease they don't want a cure. Other theorists believe the US has weaponized cancer, and administered it to dissidents who need to be silenced."

"If natural compounds could cure cancer, pharmaceutical companies would make untold millions turning them into cancer treatments. Furthermore, if they were truly being suppressed, nobody would know about them in the first place. Doctors don't offer them because they don't work."

"No single company inspires more vitriol and spite in the alternative media than biotech giant Monsanto. Specifically, their genetically modified crops cause cancerous tumors"

"Does the US dispose of its enemies/co-conspirators by injecting them with cancer, thereby ensuring a natural, not-at-all-suspicious death? A number of conspiracy theorists believe so. The two people most commonly associated with the assassination-by-cancer theory are Lee Harvey Oswald killer Jack Ruby and Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez."

"Millions of people got cancer from the polio vaccine."

The conspiracies examined in the above article have some things in common:

1. Misinterpretation of facts or data.

2. A paranoia that somebody or something is out to get us.

3. And some are just totally outrageous (Big Pharma/Government assassinating alternative cure researchers).

And just what is it about human nature that compels so many people to seek out and embrace conspiracy theories? In the 1950s it was the notion that communist agents had infiltrated the U.S. government, and were up to no good. In the 1960s it was the "domino theory," that if we didn't stop the commies in Vietnam, they would spread all over Asia.

And today you can virtually take your pick among the multiple conspiracy theories that seem to have taken hold in recent times.

Here's a study that provides some data on people who are drawn into believing cancer conspiracies, among others:

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20221228/cancer-myths-more-likely-to-be-endorsed-by-conspiracy-believers.aspx

It's a bit wordy, but highlights of it are:

"Cancer beliefs among reptilian conspiracists and flat earth believers were assessed. Individuals were asked whether they believed the earth was round or flat, whether many shape-shifting lizards were taking human forms or turning into reptilian humanoids, and whether presidents of most nations were reptilian humanoids."

"Full responders showed a greater likelihood of being 25 to 44 years of age, of European origin, and having received high education." (They have a "high" education but they still bel6eive these things?)

"Overall, the study findings highlighted the difficulties encountered by society in distinguishing between the actual etiologies and mythical etiologies of cancer due to massive data dissemination. Conspiracists, anti-vaxxers, and alternate medication-preferring individuals showed a greater likelihood of endorsing mythical cancer etiologies compared to their corresponding counterparts."

But WHY do some people believe in conspiracies?

Thoughts on this from various websites:

"One study found that half of all Americans believe in at least one conspiracy theory."

"In a world where you might feel powerless and alienated, it can be appealing to believe that there are forces plotting against you and your interests. Once these beliefs take root, cognitive biases and mental shortcuts reinforce and strengthen them. Many of the same factors that fuel other types of problematic thinking, such as a belief in the paranormal, also contribute to conspiracy theories. And while such paranoid ideas are not new, the internet has helped transform the speed and manner in which they spread." (Boldface mine).

"Researchers suggest that there are a number of different reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories. Many of these explanations boil down to three key driving factors: a need for understanding and consistency (epistemic); a need for control (existential); a need to belong or feel special."

With all due modesty, we here on the forum are pretty knowledgable laymen when it comes to cancer knowledge, especially regarding PCa. Perhaps that enables us to act as correctors, if we encounter others who can benefit from the correct knowledge of cancer that we share with them, dissuading them from their beliefs in cancer conspiracies, if they will listen to us.

So conspiracies and their promulgators won't be going away any time soon. And it behooves us to recognize them when they do arise, and deal with them accordingly: point out their fallacies to their believers who will listen, and try in discussion to substitute the truth in place of the fanciful claims they make.

We can at least try to do so when the opportunity presents itself.

Thanks for the post. Very interesting.

My own take as an amateur: There are some life events that make oneself especially vulnerable to charlatans. This has been well known for decades and probably centuries. For example, Houdini knew that there were many fake "mediums" who claimed to be able to talk to the dearly departed, widows (mostly) and widowers. I have felt this temptation myself. Another of course is cancer and other diseases, which is how snake oil salesmen came into existence long ago.

I come here pretty infrequently, but I have seen modern versions of snake oilers come here to try to sell their wares. But the moderators throw them out pretty fast.

I remember when I was first diagnosed, a well-meaning colleague handed me a handwritten "recipe" she found for a supposed cancer-fighting "elixir" ~ including baking soda ~ that one was to stir up up home ~ and consume.

I realized her concern for me, and tucked it in my pocket. I knew in that moment, she wanted me to thrive and survive, after I had received some tough news.

I know the moderators here have deleted the posts from wayward "trolls" ~ touting miracle cures.

Once, I was in a waiting room, waiting for a scan. A tearful husband & wife were discussing a completely "natural" regimen they read about somewhere for her recently diagnosed cancer.

It was obvious they were COMPLETELY shutting the door on all recommendations from her oncologist.

It was very difficult to stay in my seat. I wanted to state that they should embrace the recommendations of her oncologist. It was not my place to do so, but I felt they had been "brainwashed" by some "miracle cure" they had read about.

Who knows what circulates online or on social media about unproven cancer "cures?"

I hope these unproven and outlandish things get taken down, but we all know that misinformation IS out there.

And let's face it ~ that's downright frightening to fathom ...

A few thoughts I was mulling over ~
CYCLONE ~ # Iowa State University

Post Edited (Cyclone-ISU) : 4/30/2023 9:50:09 AM (GMT-8)

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