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The Dangers of Online "Cures": Vietnam's Cancer Patients at Risk


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In a heart-wrenching trend, cancer patients in Vietnam are increasingly falling victim to misleading online "cures," with tragic consequences. A recent case involved a 37-year-old man with liver cancer, who, after abandoning conventional treatment for an online-advertised 'miracle' cure, returned to Hanoi Medical University Hospital in a near-terminal state. Despite efforts, the severe liver failure he suffered after taking the treatment—marketed on TikTok—proved fatal.

 

Dr. Ngo Van Ty, of the hospital's oncology center, expressed profound sadness over the avoidable tragedy, emphasizing that trusting unverified medical advertisements often leads to dire outcomes.

 

Unfortunately, his case is not isolated. Doctors report multiple instances where patients revert to hospitals when it's too late, after substituting standard treatment with baseless remedies they found online. Such was the fate of a 40-year-old breast cancer patient who, after trading her prescribed therapy for a regimen of papaya leaf and asparagus juice, returned only for palliative care when her condition became critical.

 

Similarly, a 47-year-old man opted for an online alkaline water treatment over chemotherapy for his stomach cancer, a choice that led to his rapid decline and death within weeks.

 

 

 

These cases, according to Dr. Ha Hai Nam of K Hospital, underscore the difficulty of persuading patients who lose faith in medical professionals and instead trust unverified online sources. This trend is exacerbated by Vietnam's growing cancer challenge, with over 300,000 people living with the disease, including a high mortality rate associated with lung, liver, and stomach cancers.

 

Desperation and misinformation drive some patients and families to seek out "miracle" cures online. Distrust of established treatments, alongside fears about their side effects, often propels them towards dubious alternatives promoted in social media echo chambers like TikTok. Here, unlicensed practitioners, posing as medical experts in white coats, attract thousands of views, persuading vulnerable patients to forsake standard care.

 

Though there's no comprehensive data on the number of individuals misled by such practices, hospitals report a worrisome upsurge in cases returning too late for effective intervention. The U.S. National Cancer Institute, contrastingly, highlights significant advances with mortality rates dropping nearly 30% due to improved treatments and early screening.

 

In Vietnam, promising outcomes are seen with early detection, yielding cure rates over 90% for certain cancers. Dr. Ty advocates for patients to stay informed, retain trust in their healthcare providers, and adhere to scientifically-backed treatments. He urges families to consult medical professionals to navigate treatment choices effectively, prioritizing evidence over misinformation to protect their loved ones' health.

 

image.png  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-04-29

 

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Posted

I have shunned conventional medicine a few times after having searched for remedies online.

Someone told me I'm playing with my life.

You need to be confident you're not taking in snake oil and have decent research and analytical skills. 

Conventional treatments can have problems ... chemotherapy is harsh. 

 

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