A US woman who fiercely resisted chemotherapy for her colon cancer died after trying to cure the disease naturally, and after releasing a string of controversial statements about treatments since her diagnosis earlier this year.
Jessie Ward, who was the vice-president of Pruvit, a company that sells ketone supplement products, was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in March, and when her oncologist suggested aggressive chemotherapy to extend her life expectancy, had subsequently shared on social media that she doubted her care team’s expertise.
In an Instagram video, she suggested that her doctors just wanted commissions. “I have never in my life seen such a strong and compelling sales pitch. They really should go into sales.”
Instead, she posted, she would rather try using a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, “ozone” treatments, “magnetic” treatments, and “red-light therapy” to treat her illness.
The Independent reports that her decision to publicise her plan – since it wasn’t backed by scientific evidence or doctors’ recommendations – was criticised by a number of people.
According to a review published last year in JCO Oncology Practice, the internet has led to an increase in cancer-related misinformation.
“Understanding how the Internet has changed engagement with health information and facilitated the spread of misinformation is an important task and challenge for cancer clinicians,” the review said.
Social media, specifically, has become a dangerous source of misinformation, the review finding that users were more likely to believe that information was correct if it were posted by a credible source, and in the case of medical information, that would “typically be someone with healthcare-related credentials”.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Dangerous rise in social media charlatans peddling cancer ‘therapies’
FDA warns over ‘disease cure’ claims for vitamins, minerals and herbs
Goop Lab: Vampire facials, Reiki, and other snake oil remedies now on Netflix
Facebook and YouTube act on misleading, sensational health claims