WASHINGTON, June 17, 2008

FDA Cracks Down On Unproved Cancer Cures

Bogus Panaceas Available On The Internet Could Prevent Patients From Seeking Real Medical Care, Officials Say

  • The Food And Drug Administration has warned purveyors of phony cancer cures to stop peddling their wares or face prosecution. Photo

    The Food And Drug Administration has warned purveyors of phony cancer cures to stop peddling their wares or face prosecution.  (AP / CBS)

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(AP)  The Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on teas, supplements, creams and other products that falsely claim to cure, treat or prevent cancer even though they are not agency-approved drugs. All are available for sale on the Internet.

The agency has sent 25 warning letters to companies and individuals marketing these products, FDA officials said Tuesday. Twenty-three of the letters went to domestic companies and two to foreign individuals.

FDA officials said the statements made about these products are dangerous because they could prevent a patient from seeking proper treatment for cancer. They could also harm a cancer patient by interacting with other drugs the patient is taking.

"FDA is very concerned that consumers will purchase these products on the Internet and use them instead of products that have been proven safe and effective," said Michael Levy, director of the agency's new drugs and labeling compliance division.

The letters criticized unproven claims made about these products including the ability to "destroy the enzyme on DNA responsible for cancer cells," and the power to "neutralize" carcinogens. One product's Web site had a testimonial claiming it had cured a patient's skin cancer in three days, according to one of the letters.

The ingredients of these unproven treatments include bloodroot, shark cartilage, coral calcium, cesium, ellagic acid, and a variety of mushrooms among other products.

Officials said that if the warnings are not heeded, the agency could take action including seizure of the products and criminal prosecution.

"Health fraud has been around for years, and it is a cruel form of greed," said David Elder, director of the agency's enforcement office. "Fraud involving cancer treatments can be especially heartless."


© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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by June 17, 2008 6:07 PM PDT
Nothing can cure except synthetic drugs and deadly chemotherapy according to our wonderful FDA. Known cures from other countries must not be able to cure according to our FDA. The FDA has a history of protecting profits and health being on the back burner.
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by be19611 June 18, 2008 4:46 AM PDT
A while ago a pharmaceutical CEO admitted that less than 50% of all their cancer drugs were effective. I wonder if the gov. will be cracking down on those companies?
Reply to this comment
by extremophil June 18, 2008 9:13 AM PDT
The FDA needs to crack down on the hundreds of other quack cures and scams that litter the internet and TV commercials. These bogus cancer cures are just a drop in the bucket. (And don''t any of you paranoid pinheads talk to me about capitalistic conspiracies).
Reply to this comment
by talkingham June 18, 2008 11:27 AM PDT
Extremophil, trans fats were and still are one of the biggest capitalistic conspiracies yet stuffed down you and your kids tummies.

It was know more than 25 years ago that these poisons were identified as deadly to humans yet in Congress testimony identifying the dangers of these "oils" was deleted from the Congressional record and in most cases Democrats such as George McGovern were in charge of the committees, so it''s not a Dem Vs Repub issue it''s an industry plan to scam you to death with plastic fat in almost every packaged food u bought. It was doctors telling heart sick patients to eat margarines loaded with trans fats instead of natural butter that have literally killed hundreds of thousands of people-- but that''s not news of course because there might be an edible oils industry conspiracy at work.

I guess when lobbyists control the major committees and ignore important health evidence it''s business as usual not a conspiracy.

Please read more on the Weston A. Price Foundation web site, you might learn something but I doubt you''re interested in the truth, the bought and sold news media certainly isn''t. That should tell everyone something as they watch newscasts loaded with commercials for all the anti cholesterol drugs needed for a generation of soy bean, corn oil and trans fat fed nation. Yet, they will blame people who eat red meat for the problem, go figure. Weston A. Price Foundation has the real news on this.
Reply to this comment
by talkingham June 18, 2008 11:39 AM PDT
Trans fats were and still are one of the biggest capitalistic conspiracies yet stuffed down our throats.

It was known more than 25 years ago that these poisons were deadly to humans, yet in Congress testimony identifying the dangers of these "oils" was deleted from the Congressional record and in most cases Democrats such as George McGovern were in charge of the committees. It''s an industry plan to scam you to death with almost every packaged food u bought. It was doctors telling heart sick patients to eat margarines loaded with trans fats instead of natural butter that have literally killed hundreds of thousands of people-- but that''s not news because there might be an edible oils industry conspiracy at work.

When lobbyists control the committees and ignore important health evidence it''s business as usual not a conspiracy. Read more on the Weston A. Price Foundation web site. Think as you watch newscasts loaded with commercials for anti cholesterol drugs for a soy bean, corn oil and trans fat fed nation. Yet, they will blame people who eat red meat for the problem, go figure.

When u stuff an oil full of hydrogen, soft drinks with 60% gas and 12 spoons of corn syrup, and load other foods with rancid veggie oils it''s not a conspiracy, it''s just good business. Go figure.
Reply to this comment
by talkingham June 18, 2008 11:42 AM PDT
Trans fats were and still are one of the biggest capitalistic conspiracies yet stuffed down our throats.

It was known more than 25 years ago that these poisons were deadly to humans, yet in Congress testimony identifying the dangers of these "oils" was deleted from the Congressional record and in most cases Democrats such as George McGovern were in charge of the committees. It''s an industry plan to scam you to death with almost every packaged food u bought. It was doctors telling heart sick patients to eat margarines loaded with trans fats instead of natural butter that have literally killed hundreds of thousands of people-- but that''s not news because there might be an edible oils industry conspiracy at work.

When lobbyists control the committees and ignore important health evidence it''s business as usual not a conspiracy. Read more on the Weston A. Price Foundation web site. Think as you watch newscasts loaded with commercials for anti cholesterol drugs for a soy bean, corn oil and trans fat fed nation. Yet, they will blame people who eat red meat for the problem, go figure.

When u stuff an oil full of hydrogen, soft drinks with 60% gas and 12 spoons of corn syrup, and load other foods with rancid veggie oils it''s not a conspiracy, it''s just good business. Go figure.
Reply to this comment
by talkingham June 18, 2008 11:46 AM PDT
Sorry for the multiple posts, the publish button kept going away and said it wasn''t publishing.
Reply to this comment
by bluestardad June 18, 2008 1:37 PM PDT
HEY MEDICAL FIELD!

CURE SOMETHING!

ANYTHING!

STOP MAKING MONEY OFF TREATING ILLNESS AND CURE IT!

PROVE TO AMERICA YOU ARE WORTH THE BILLIONS WE SPEND ON YOU EACH YEAR!

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