Can hot water and lemon cure cancer, as claimed?

Claim: TikTok user @Japhethcomedy shared a video claiming that cancer is no longer deadly and that the remedy lies in drinking hot water mixed with lemon.

Verdict: False! No scientific evidence supports the claim that hot water and lemon can cure cancer. Experts strongly advise individuals with cancer to seek professional medical treatment and proper management at a hospital.

Full Text 

With growing awareness of how the environment influences health and longevity, more individuals are actively pursuing knowledge to embrace healthier lifestyles.

Amid the abundance of information, misinformation and disinformation continue to thrive, posing serious risks to public health. For instance, a TikTok user posted a video in Sept 2023 claiming that hot water and lemon could cure cancer. 

The video has garnered over 13,000 likes and has been reshared more than 16,000 times, spreading this unverified and potentially harmful claim widely.

The video was recently reshared with some WhatsApp groups, enabling its spread even further.

In the original TikTok video, the user—who did not identify as a medical professional or nutritionist—advised viewers to extract lemon juice, mix it with hot water, and drink it first thing in the morning before meals. He claimed that affected individuals should follow this routine for one to three months for quick results.

The user also encouraged viewers to share the video with their loved ones, and several commenters mentioned they had already done so.

However, some viewers raised critical questions in the comment section, such as what specific type of cancer this method could allegedly cure, the exact quantity of lemon juice required, and whether people with certain medical conditions might face complications from consuming the concoction.

DUBAWA observed the user’s refusal to give useful responses to the concerns raised. 

Cancer 

According to Cleveland Clinic, there are over 100 types of cancer, but healthcare providers categorise them according to where the cancer starts in the body and the type of tissue it affects. They use three broad classifications: solid cancer, blood cancer, and mixed cancer.

Solid cancers are divided into carcinoma (which affects epithelial tissue such as the skin, breast, colon, and lungs) and sarcoma (which forms in bone and connective tissues). Blood cancers start in the blood cells or lymphatic system, e.g. leukaemia. Mixed cancers involve two classifications or subtypes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) submits that cancer is a major contributor to global mortality, causing about 1 in every six deaths, and the most common ones are breast, lung, colon, rectum, and prostate cancer, which have varying degrees of contributions to death rates.

The body noted that most risk factors for cancer are modifiable, urging everyone to maintain healthy lifestyles as part of measures to prevent cancer. 

Given the serious risks cancer poses to society and the potential harm caused by misinformation regarding its treatment, DUBAWA conducted a fact-check of the claim.

Verification 

Dr Qudus Lawal, Director of Programmes at End Cervical Cancer Nigeria Initiative, told DUBAWA that the management of cancer and how it is addressed is known in science, and the methods of addressing different types of cancer are not vague. 

Mr Lawal argued that there is no basis for the TikTok user to prescribe hot water and lemon for the treatment of cancer, as there is no evidence to support the claim. The medical expert noted that such a narrative may mislead the public and, unfortunately, cause delays in the treatment presentation. He urged the general public to ignore the claim.

“Whoever has cancer should present to the hospital where experts are going to manage and take care of them,” he said.

The medical practitioner noted that there are different types of cancer and that they are in stages, which determine the type of treatment a patient undergoes. He highlighted surgical treatment in which the cancer is removed, the use of medication (chemotherapy), immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiotherapy. 

“The spectrum of what can be used to treat cancer is widening these days, and there are different treatments considering cancer types, but hot lemon water isn’t one of them,” he explained. 

However, he clarified that while consuming lemon is not discouraged, it should not be considered a cure for cancer. He urged patients to seek proper medical treatment by presenting themselves at a hospital.

An article in Medical News Today also addressed the myth behind lemon juice and its connection to cancer cure. It explained that this myth has gained popularity because of the alkaline diet theory and the premise that certain cancer cells cannot thrive in an alkaline environment. However, the article noted that no research supports the claim.

Meanwhile, some studies have identified the potential benefits of citrus fruits (including lemons) in lowering cancer risks. The 2021 study published in Science Direct suggested that citrus intake may have a protective effect on lung cancer risk but doesn’t present it as a cure for cancer. Also, another group of researchers tried the use of garlic and lemon aqueous extracts to fight breast cancer and got an 80% success rate, however, the study was carried out on mice. 

In addition, the researchers noted the need for further testing to understand the molecular mechanisms of the combination and to test its therapeutic effect against other cancer models. Nevertheless, this research was not carried out on humans.

Cancer Research UK explained that a person’s overall diet is more important than any food, stressing further that “no single food can prevent cancer.”

Conclusion

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet is encouraged for individuals with cancer. However, research and medical experts have not proven lemon as a cure for the condition.