Dog Dewormer For Cancer

dog dewormer for cancer
A rumor is spreading that a dog deworming medicine cures some types of cancer in humans. The medicine in question is fenbendazole (also known as Safe Guard, Pro Sense, or Panacur) and it’s used by veterinarians to treat gastrointestinal parasites in dogs and cats. While some peer-reviewed studies have found the drug may have some anticancer potential, the National Cancer Institute and Food and Drug Administration say fenbendazole isn’t a cancer cure.

The rumors are based on an anecdotal account from Joe Tippens, who says he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2016 and given only three months to live. In a last-ditch attempt to save his life, Tippens turned to what is widely considered a pet dewormer and he credits it with keeping him alive and healthy.

A few viral Facebook posts and TikTok videos have spread the claim that a dog dewormer cured a patient of cancer. The videos repost a portion of a 2019 video posted by Andrew Jones, a veterinarian in British Columbia. The video claimed that fenbendazole cured his advanced lung cancer and is currently viewed over 11,000 times on TikTok and Facebook.

Some research has found that fenbendazole, also spelt mebendazole and albendazole, might have anti-cancer properties in humans because it suppresses the growth of microtubules inside living cells. These are structures that give structure to all cells, and in cancerous ones, can grow out of control. But there’s not enough proof that fenbendazole is an effective cancer treatment for humans.