After a viral video claimed that dog dewormer for cancer could cure humans, many people have started buying the medication and using it to treat their cancer. But while some peer-reviewed studies have suggested that fenbendazole, which is used as a pet dewormer (brand names include Panacure and Safe Guard), may have anticancer effects, it is not approved for use in humans to treat cancer.
Cancers are the second leading cause of death in the world, and despite a lot of effort, it’s not easy to beat them. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are effective in many cases, but for others it’s not enough, especially once the disease spreads to other parts of the body.
That’s why researchers are always on the lookout for new ways to improve treatment options. Recently, they found that a parasite first identified in dogs can help stimulate the immune system to attack cancerous tumours.
The findings, published in the journal Nature, offer hope for people with a type of bone cancer called osteosarcoma. It often occurs in children and large dog breeds such as Great Danes, and can be difficult to treat with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. Dogs have a unique ancestry, and selective breeding has resulted in hundreds of different breeds, with some more predisposed to certain diseases than others. For example, lymphoma is more common in golden retrievers, and glioma (a type of brain cancer) is more prevalent in Boston terriers and boxers. dog dewormer for cancer