My Malignant Melanoma

More "cancer-curing" quacky nonsense on What Now: guyabano, camel's milk, honey and olive oil.

Guyabano is also known (amongst other things) as cherimoya, guanabana, soursop, custard apple, brazilian paw paw, graviola, guansavana, cachiman epineux and triamazon. The multitude of names can make it hard to find reliable information, but here's what Cancer Research UK have to say about it. To summarise, there is no evidence that it cures cancer, but there is evidence of brain damage.

Camels' milk has no evidence at all to support any cancer-curing claims. Of course it is just milk, so side-effects are minimal. The lactoferrin which its supporters claim is the active ingredient is present in cow's milk as well. Someone needs to show it works before we have to start speculating about a mechanism of action, however.

Camel milk doesn't taste too good though and isn't readily available in the UK of course, though many of the articles about camel's milk have the flavour of camel milk marketing board press releases. At least the poster wasn't promoting camel urine, which also promoted in the Middle East as a cancer cure with no more scientific backing than the milk.

Honey has not been shown to cure cancer, boost the immune system, or help cancer patients in any other way, though that hasn't prevented some scumbags from promoting one particular brand to cancer patients at £45 a jar.

There is no evidence that I am aware of that olive oil has any effect on cancer once you have it.

And of course as ever all of these things are sold based on a supposed anecdote from a person who to the best of our knowledge consists of no more than a few typed words on a computer screen.

There is no evidence that they exist at all, ever had cancer, or were told the things they claim.

They do however admit that they have had repeated conventional treatments, ("radiotherapy to chemetharipy and stemcell transplant and even now as i am writing to you i am having a velcade")but still somehow believe that it was positive mental attitude and camel's milk wot done it.

In evaluating a testimonial like this there are three main questions:

1. Was cancer definitely present, as shown by reliable tests, when treatment was commenced?

2. Did it go away? (or clearly respond otherwise, as judged by the same tests)

3. Was the advocated treatment the only one used ? (within 2-3 months of the apparent cancer response)

Anything which does not verifiably meet these three tests isn't even an anecdote

Labels: brazilian paw paw, camel milk, Cancer, cherimoya, cure, custard apple, graviola, guanabana, Guyabano, honey, soursop, triamazon