How We Get Manipulated by Cancer Misinformation

Misinformation about cancer, such as false claims by influencers, can lead people to avoid lifesaving treatments and erode trust in professionals

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When British television personality Danielle Lloyd was diagnosed with melanoma earlier this year, she faced not only the anxiety of cancer treatment but also a disturbing reality: influencers spreading dangerous misinformation about sun protection. After having a suspicious mole removed and awaiting results from a second biopsy, the 41-year-old has become an outspoken critic of social media personalities who lie to their followers about sunscreen products.

Cancer misinformation can have serious consequences, such as leading people to delay or even avoid life-saving treatments and eroding trust in medical professionals. Misinformation spreads easily because it taps into people's emotions and reasoning about health. When faced with a cancer diagnosis, fear, confusion, and a desire for control can drive people to seek remedies that offer hope—even if that hope comes from sources that don't use credible evidence.

Misinformation often offers simple, comforting answers, while real medicine is complex, uncertain and sometimes difficult to accept. Fake cancer claims can feel convincing because they seem to eliminate the uncertainty about whether treatment will work or if the cancer will return.

Social media platforms can amplify false cancer messages, making them appear more credible or popular than they actually are. This is compounded by the role of influencers and unqualified practitioners, who often profit from promoting pseudoscience.