Cancer nutrition misinformation is common on Pinterest

Crane and colleagues searched Pinterest utilizing phrases like “most cancers recipe” or “most cancers vitamin,” to duplicate the sorts of queries made by most cancers sufferers.

Practically half the responses to their searches had been on “for-profit” websites. Additionally, quite a few well being claims featured phrases resembling anti-cancer, cancer-fighting or cancer-busting.

Many posts exaggerated the power of meals and/or dietary supplements to treatment most cancers. One even claimed a “terminal most cancers affected person reverses illness with anti-angiogenic meals,” which is sort of actually false, in accordance with the authors.

“Round 33% of the instances we went to Pinterest, somebody tried to promote us one thing that claimed to be anti-cancer or most cancers cell killing,” Crane mentioned. “These well being claims could or is probably not true. However put your self within the sneakers of a most cancers affected person. They see buzzwords round these merchandise and will routinely be inclined to buy them.”

Posts focused each sufferers and caregivers, and plenty of centered on breast cancer. Solely about 18% of posters listed any health-related {qualifications}.

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