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Claim: A Facebook user @Daily Updates stated in a post that bee venom eliminates breast cancer cells within 60 minutes.
Verdict: Misleading. The claim exaggerates early laboratory findings and presents an unproven substance as a cure-all.
Full Text
Cancer is a life-threatening illness that has taken many lives. There are different types of cancer, and each one comes with its own stage and level of severity. Research has made treatments like chemotherapy and other medical options possible. These treatments have helped some people recover, while others have unfortunately died because of how intense the illness can be.
A Facebook account @Daily Updates, claimed that bee venom destroys all aggressive breast cancer cells within 60 minutes.
The claim was accompanied by a caption that read, “In a stunning breakthrough, scientists have confirmed that bee venom can destroy 100% of aggressive breast cancer cells in lab tests, and it does so in less than 60 minutes.”
The user said the key lies in melittin, a powerful compound found in bee venom, which researchers discovered can break apart the outer membranes of cancer cells and shut down key signalling pathways that allow tumours to grow and spread.
The post continued to explain that melittin destroys triple-negative and HER2-positive breast cancer cells, two of the most aggressive forms. It also claims that healthy cells are almost untouched, giving the impression that bee venom offers a targeted option with fewer side effects than chemotherapy.
The post concluded that bee venom is a natural breakthrough for cancer treatment.
As of Nov. 19, 2025, the post had 37,000 likes, 1,900 comments, and 6,200 comments.
We reviewed the comments to understand the thoughts of those who responded.
@ Kayden Gilbeaux, for instance, said, “Everything we need to heal is probably already here, just undiscovered if you really think about it.”
@Abdul Garcia wrote, “ All of a sudden, all bees are about to go extinct.”
@Benjamin Kelly added, “It’s almost like, the things in nature that we keep killing off and don’t protect, are actually the key to healing us all.”
@Jess Paschen shared her thoughts, “This feels like a good time to remind everyone that not everything you see on the internet is true.”
The comment section showed a mix of opinions. While some users believed the claim, others rejected it outright and asked the Facebook account that posted it to provide proof.
The post attracted many engagements, and because claims about human health can have serious consequences, we decided to verify it.
Verification
DUBAWA began by researching the recognised procedures for treating cancer to determine whether bee venom appears among the options. Medical News Today reports that cancer treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, laser therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy. Each method attacks cancer in a specific way, either by precision targeting or by enhancing the immune system. None of these sources lists bee venom as an approved or standard therapy.
DUBAWA also assessed alternative sources, including bee venom, but identified none. Other research and articles from credible sources exploring alternative procedures for cancer treatment can be found here, here, here, and here.
Since the claim focuses on breast cancer cells, we looked into how breast cancer is treated and to see whether bee venom appears in any of these approaches. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), standard treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
Mayo Clinic also explains that for breast cancer, doctors often use radiation after surgery along with treatments like chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or targeted therapy, depending on the tumour type. This combination helps remove the tumour and reduces the risk of it coming back.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that breast cancer caused 670,000 deaths globally in 2022, with about 2.3 million new cases. Projections from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggest 3.2 million new cases and 1.1 million deaths yearly by 2050 if current trends continue.
Looking at this data, if anything came close to curing breast cancer as instantly as the Facebook user claimed, the projections themselves would already include solutions.
What about bee venom?
Apart from the lack of proof that bee venom cures breast cancer in humans, DUBAWA found that it has been tested in lab settings. Studies have shown that melittin, a compound in bee venom, can kill specific breast cancer cells and block key growth pathways. Researchers have also explored ways to deliver it safely, either with chemotherapy or with nanomaterials. However, these tests have not been conducted in humans, and translating these lab results into a safe and effective treatment will require years of further trials.
Experts speak
Amina Bello, a lecturer at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University and a PhD candidate in oncology, explained that cancer research is a slow, methodical process and that no treatment works instantly. According to her, every proven procedure takes time to develop and even more time to show results in patients.
“In the lab, the work always starts with watching how cancer cells respond when the environment around them changes. With time, research, trial, and error continue until scientists are sure that the results are solid,” she said.
She explained that even if bee venom has potential components to transform cancer treatment, it is still wrong to bring up “unfinished research as a permanent agent capable of fighting cancer cells within minutes,” she buttressed.
Yunusa Ayuba, a public health expert at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, also shared his perspective with DUBAWA.
He said the global cancer burden is too high and the scientific world is too competitive for any effective cure to stay hidden. He also said cancer treatment faces many challenges in Nigeria, so people should avoid such stories, which can mislead many.
“Cancer treatment in Nigeria still faces many challenges, and the last thing people should do is make up stories about cures that do not exist. Bee venom is not a cure for breast cancer or any other cancer. If it truly wiped out cancer cells the way people have said, concerned parties would not ignore it. He told DUBAWA that even in advanced countries, where cancer and its treatment procedures are more productive, this is not a remedy that has been shared.”
Yunusa advised that the best course of action with this information is to disregard such claims.
“The best thing to do with this information is to ignore. If people share new scientific updates, they should also reference them to instances where it worked, or research that supports it,” he said.
Conclusion
DUBAWA found no evidence that bee venom cures breast cancer. Existing studies have only shown effects in controlled laboratory experiments, not in humans. So the claim is misleading.
