A ‘hidden cure’ for cancer is not being kept secret

What’s the claim?

Some online discussions suggest that a cure for cancer has been discovered but is being kept under wraps by pharmaceutical giants, sparking concerns about ethics and corporate greed. Recently, a TikTok video has gained significant attention, alleging the existence of a hidden cure for cancer. The video had 298,000 views and about 2.8 million views at the time of writing this story. An archived version of the post can be found here.

Screenshot of claims made online. (Source: Instagram/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, this is baseless. There is no universal cure for all types of cancer.

According to the American Association for Cancer Research, cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. These cells can invade and destroy surrounding tissues and organs, impairing their normal functions. Cancer can develop in almost any part of the body and can arise from various types of cells. 

There is no single cure for cancer

Adele Kay Fielding, a British researcher and a Professor of Haematology at UCL Cancer Institute, told Logically Facts, “Of course, there isn’t a “cure for cancer”. 

“Cancer is a bunch of diverse diseases with different treatments. Some cancers are indeed curable and are already regularly and routinely cured. For example, most children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are cured,” she added.

Cancer is a heterogeneous disease, with numerous subtypes that can arise from different tissues and exhibit diverse genetic and molecular characteristics, according to Oxford Academic. Also, each person's cancer has a unique combination of genetic changes, a National Cancer Institute report states.

According to the American Cancer Society, whether an individual's cancer can be cured depends on factors such as the specific type and stage of cancer, available treatment options, and various other considerations. While certain cancers have a higher likelihood of being cured than others, each type of cancer requires specific treatments.

According to the World Wide Cancer Research Organisation, experts assert that as the types of cancer differ in their causes and how they spread, finding a single cure is highly unlikely due to cancer’s complexity. 

Additionally, the pharmaceutical industry is highly regulated, and any effective cancer treatment must undergo rigorous testing and approval processes by regulatory agencies such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the United States. Discovering a cure would likely lead to immense profits and positive publicity for the company. The idea of deliberately withholding a cure for cancer for profit is not supported by credible evidence.

The verdict

Cancer research is ongoing, and many organizations worldwide are dedicated to finding effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for cancer. There is no evidence that the pharma industry has found a cure for cancer but is keeping it secret for profit. Therefore, we mark this claim false.