Published on June 28, 2023, by the Facebook page “SANTÉ ET VIE,” this information has gone viral on Facebook in 2024. The highly viral post has garnered 1,500 likes, 699 comments, and 28,000 shares. The post claims: “The composition of soursop and wild eggplant is a remedy for breast cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer….” However, according to cancer specialists, this claim is not substantiated.
There Is No Scientific Evidence
“To my knowledge, there has been no scientifically validated evidence proving that soursop and wild eggplant can cure cancer. Therefore, I cannot support these false claims,” stated Dr. Guy-Roger Dote, an oncologist, in an interview with Centrafrique Check.
In another interview, Dr. Mbary Siollo Mada Bebelou, head of the Nutrition and Food Hygiene Department at the Ministry of Health, said: “There is no study that links the prevention or management of cancer to these foods. Soursop contains many nutrients that are beneficial to the human body, but these are false claims published by sellers of illusions,” he emphasized.
Dr. Kosh Komba Jess Elio, an oncologist and pediatrician, also dismissed the information, stating: “This is purely false information. It’s important to understand that some information shared on social media is not accurate. Soursop and wild eggplant are not definitive treatments for curing cancer.”
Further research revealed that many media outlets have already addressed this recurring claim. For example, Agence France Presse (AFP) published a fact-check on their website. In an article written by Marin Lefèvre and made public on April 20, 2022, it was noted: “Wild eggplant is not a remedy against cancer. According to several experts contacted by the agency, there is no scientific data proving the effectiveness of this vegetable against any type of cancer.” The full content can be read via the provided link.
Additionally, the newspaper “Le Monde,” in an article written by “Les Décodeurs” and published on May 4, 2018, also highlighted: “Soursop is not a miracle fruit for fighting cancer, and there is no miracle cure for cancer, nor is there any ‘anti-cancer’ food or diet.”
Cancer is a major global cause of mortality, accounting for nearly one in six deaths and affecting almost every household. According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 20 million new cases of cancer and 9.7 million associated deaths worldwide in 2022. Breast, colon, rectal, and prostate cancers are the most common globally. This disease can often be cured and treated at an early stage. It has been demonstrated that up to 50% of cancers can be prevented. To achieve this, you should refrain from smoking tobacco.
You should also reduce your intake of high-calorie processed foods, increase your daily portions of fruits and vegetables, engage in regular physical activity, and stay up to date with recommended vaccinations. According to WHO, these behaviors are among the most effective in preventing cancer.
Conclusion
The post claiming that soursop and wild eggplant are remedies for cancer, regardless of the type of cancer, is false, as verified by Centrafrique Check.
This article was edited by Esdras Michael Ndamoyen, Editor-in-Chief.
