Is Cancer A Fungus? Let’s Bust This Myth Today!

Each and every disease has some myth surrounding it, with regards to its origin, treatment etc. Cancer is one such disease that has given rise to a certain myth that it is caused by a fungus named Candida or the cancer cells are a type of fungus. However, this myth has been busted where the studies have shown that both the claims are utterly and completely wrong.⁽¹⁾

This myth most likely developed when researchers started studying the link between fungus and cancer and it is also strongly believed to have originated with Dr. Tullio Simoncini who is an Italian physician, claiming that cancer is a fungus.⁽¹⁾

Dr. Tullio Simoncini is the one putting forward various unproven theories associated with cancer, including that it is a type of a fungus or caused by a fungus and the treatment for it is giving sodium bicarbonate intravenously.

This “claim” of his is so unique in nature and so different about what everyone knows about cancer that many social media platforms and news outlets started paying attention to it. This attention to this unproven theory that cancer is a fungus, has resulted in spreading of this myth.

People believe Dr. Tullio Simoncini’s claims that cancer is a fungus or caused by a fungus despite them being refuted because just having a physician claiming all these statements is sufficient for this rumor to spread and to be believed.

According to some people, they think that the Candida fungus present in the body causes an immune response, which ultimately results in cancer. Other individuals believe this myth because cancerous tumors on imaging studies look like fungus.

However, there is no research, imaging or any pathology that proves or indicates that cancer is a form of fungus.

So, let’s bury this myth/rumor once and forever that CANCER IS NOT A FUNGUS.

So, now that it is clear that cancer is not a fungus, then what exactly is this disease about? Cancer is a disease where there is a rapid and uncontrollable growth of cells in the body.

When there is some sort of imbalance in the body, such as in its metabolism, body temperature etc., then the body starts working on restoring its normal balance. As the cancer cells rapidly and uncontrollably multiplies and grows, they accumulate and start exerting pressure on normal cells. When this happens then the body starts working overtime in battling these cancer cells and doesn’t have any energy left to perform other normal functions of the body adequately. As this rapid growth of the cancer cells continues, it starts spreading to other parts of the body making it difficult for the organs to perform their daily functioning. If cancer is not treated, then it can ultimately lead to death.

The exact cause for cancer is not clear, but it is definitely not fungus. According to experts there are various potential causes of cancer that include:

• Exposure to various carcinogens including certain chemicals.
• Genetics and environmental factors.
• Bad lifestyle habits, like excessive sun exposure, smoking, bad diet etc.
• Many a times there is no identifiable cause as to why there is such growth of the cancer cells.

Despite this myth being disproven time and again that cancer is not a fungus, there is still a connection between these two. A person suffering from cancer can be more susceptible to fungal infections. However, it doesn’t mean that having cancer will definitely cause you to have a fungal infection and likewise, having a fungal infection is not a guarantee that a person will have cancer.

Treatment for cancer depends on the type of cancer and its stage and includes: Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy which work on killing the cancer cells, but also affect the normal cells resulting in weakened immunity of the cancer patient. With a weak immune system, the body becomes more prone for fungal infections to develop.

Cancer is not a fungus is a proven fact. But be that as it may, people undergoing treatment for cancer are at increased risk for various infections including fungal infections due to weak immune system. Other than this, there is ongoing research between the connection of cancer and fungal infections.

If you have any doubts regarding cancer and fungal infections, then it is best to talk to your health care professional about them, instead of searching on the net and believing such baseless rumors/myths.

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