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Research finds most TikTok cancer "cure" posts studied are false
Research from Ohio State (2023) and City St George's, University of London (2025) found most popular cancer posts studied on TikTok were inaccurate or misleading. What the studies found and how to check a video.
Original commentary from the Cancer Explained editorial team.
Please note: this page is educational only — it is not medical advice, and it does not speculate about anyone’s health beyond reliable public reporting. For questions about your own health, talk with your healthcare team.
Most of what researchers found was wrong
Researchers who have studied cancer videos on TikTok keep finding the same thing: most popular posts are not accurate.
In September 2023, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center reported on a study in the journal Gynecologic Oncology (DOI 10.1016/j.ygyno.2023.06.004). The team looked at the 500 most popular TikTok posts across top hashtags for gynecologic cancers. They found that at least 73% of the content was inaccurate and of poor educational quality (EurekAlert, 2023-09-19). Posts promoted unregulated supplements, herbal remedies, and vaginal steaming as cancer treatments, without scientific evidence (Ohio State, 2023-10-04).
In January 2025, CURE reported on a book chapter by a sociologist at City St George's, University of London. Of 200 cancer posts reviewed, 163 (81%) contained false or misleading information. The article said nearly all of the false content was monetized through link pages, and some promoted animal medicines such as dog and horse wormer (CURE, 2025-01-15).
What it does and doesn't mean
These studies looked at samples of popular posts at one point in time. They do not measure every video on the app. They do show that a video being popular says nothing about whether it is true.
The FDA has long warned that phrases claiming a product "treats all forms of cancer" or is "more effective than chemotherapy" are red flags, and that fake products can delay treatment that works (FDA).
What you can do
- Use our checklist: How to Spot Fake Cancer Cures on TikTok and Instagram.
- Show any product or claim to your care team before trying it.
- If a video describes a symptom you have, if it's new or lasts, get it checked.
- If you have trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat after taking any product, call 911.
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Put the story in context
Prevention, possible warning signs, screening, and diagnosis
This story relates to Cancer misinformation. The information below is general: it does not reveal anything else about a public person’s health, and not every point applies to every cancer. Personal advice depends on age, symptoms, family history, exposures, and medical history.
Prevention and risk reduction
Not every cancer can be prevented. Avoiding tobacco, protecting skin from ultraviolet radiation, limiting alcohol, staying active, and receiving recommended HPV or hepatitis B vaccination can lower the risk of certain cancers. A risk factor is not a prediction or a cause in one individual.
Symptoms and possible early signs
Possible signs vary and are often caused by conditions other than cancer. Changes worth discussing include a new lump, unexplained bleeding or weight loss, a persistent cough, lasting bowel or bladder changes, a changing skin spot, or symptoms that persist or worsen. Some early cancers cause no symptoms.
Screening and early detection
Screening looks for certain cancers before symptoms begin. Recommended tests exist only for some cancers and depend on age and risk. Screening can have benefits and harms; it is not the same as evaluating a new symptom, and there is no single routine scan or blood test that reliably screens for every cancer.
How cancer is diagnosed
Diagnosis may involve a history and exam, imaging, laboratory tests, and often a biopsy. Pathology can identify the cancer type and may test biomarkers that guide treatment. Symptoms, screening results, tumor markers, or online stories alone cannot confirm cancer.
A public story may encourage questions, but it should not be used to estimate your risk or choose testing. Contact a healthcare professional about a persistent or concerning change. Seek urgent care for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms.