A viral video on TikTok and Facebook claiming that the anti-parasitic drug fenbendazole is an effective cure for advanced lung cancer has been met with skepticism by scientists and healthcare professionals. The claim is based on anecdotal evidence from a single case in which a patient experienced remission from their cancer after taking fenbendazole, but this does not mean the medication will work for all people.
Fenbendazole is a widely available over-the-counter medication that works to treat parasitic worms in dogs and other animals. It is a weak chemotherapy drug, and like other drugs of this class it interferes with the formation of microtubules. This prevents cells from dividing, which slows down the growth of cancer cells and starves them of their energy source.
In in-vitro studies on cancer cells, fenbendazole has shown some promise in disrupting the cell cycle and inhibiting tumor growth. However, these studies were conducted in a lab, and results from in-vitro studies rarely translate to humans or animals.
Further, a recent study of mice that were fed fenbendazole found no effect on tumor growth or the number of spontaneous lung metastases. The researchers also found that fenbendazole was unable to reduce the amount of radiation-induced damage to the lungs.
It is important to note that fenbendazole is not FDA approved for use in humans. Additionally, the type of fenbendazole sold by third party vendors online is typically an over-the-counter veterinary medicine and therefore subject to looser quality control than human pharmaceuticals. For these reasons, it is highly recommended to work with a licensed integrative healthcare professional when considering the use of fenbendazole for cancer treatment. Your health care professional can review your medical history, lab reports and current medications to ensure you are receiving the proper dosage, which is essential to minimizing side effects.fenbendazole for humans cancer