Fact Check: Can mushrooms soup cure Cancer?

A post on social media claiming  Mushroom and Chive Soup can Cure Cancer.

Claim: A post on the social media site Twitter (X)  claims that mushrooms and chives given in soup form can cure cancer. The post showed two different images: mushroom soup and chive soup. The link to the post is here.

The mystery of cancer

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. If the spread is not controlled, it can result in death. (1) Cancer affects 1 in 3 people in the United States. There are many types of cancer. Cancer can develop anywhere in the body and is named for the part of the body where it started. For instance, breast cancer that starts in the breast is still called breast cancer, even if it spreads (metastasizes) to other parts of the body.

There are two main categories of cancer:

• Hematologic (blood) cancers are cancers of the blood cells, including leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

• Solid tumour cancers are cancers of any of the other body organs or tissues. The most common solid tumours are breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers.

• Malignant tumours (cancer) can grow quickly and uncontrollably. These tumours can grow and spread into areas close by. Cells from these tumours can break away, travel through the blood or lymph system, and begin to grow in other parts of the body. (2)

What causes Cancer?

There is no exact single cause of cancer; rather, Cancer arises from a complex combination of factors. Cancer cells develop because of multiple changes in their genes. These changes can have many possible causes. Lifestyle habits, genes you get from your parents, and being exposed to cancer-causing agents in the environment can all play a role. Many times, there is no obvious cause.

Can mushroom and/or Chive soup cure cancer?

Like many natural foods, mushroom and chive soup have health benefits, but it does not cure cancer. While some studies suggest that certain types of mushrooms may have anti-cancer properties due to their immune-boosting effects and phytochemicals, these are not sufficient to cure cancer. Similarly, chives contain antioxidants and other beneficial compounds that might help reduce the risk of various diseases, but no evidence suggests they can cure cancer.

In a population-based study by Gao CM et al., the age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio for stomach cancer decreased inversely with the frequency of consumption of garlic, onions, Welsh onions, and Chinese chives. (3)

Cancer Research UK said, ‘‘There is no evidence that mushrooms or mushroom extract can prevent or cure cancer. Early research has shown that it may strengthen the immune system.” (4) A Cochrane review 2016 looked at reishi mushrooms as a cancer treatment. These are also called Ganoderma lucidum or G.lucidum. The review included five randomised trials. They found that when G.lucidum was given with standard treatment, there was a small benefit. The standard treatment was chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It led to an increase in the activity of immune cells. G.lucidum seemed to be well tolerated when given with conventional cancer treatment. (5)

According to a study by Hye Jin Park, Many groups have reported that mushrooms possess anticancer activities and minimize undesirable side effects such as nausea, bone marrow suppression, anaemia, and insomnia, and lower drug resistance after chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Mushrooms contain anticancer components like antroquinonol, cordycepin, hispolon, lectin, krestin, polysaccharide, sulfated polysaccharide, lentinan, and Maitake D Fraction (6)

Mushrooms have great nutritional value since they are quite rich in protein, with an important content of essential amino acids and fibre, and poor fat, but excellent important fatty acids content. Moreover, edible mushrooms provide a nutritionally significant content of vitamins (B1, B2, B12, C, D, and E) (7)

However, none of these studies verify that mushrooms and/or chives can cure cancer. 

Speaking to the Medical Dialogues team, Dr Tushar Patil, Senior Consultant - Medical Oncologist, Sahyadri Super Specialty Hospital, Deccan Gymkhana, Pune, explained, "The research supporting certain mushrooms' possible anti-cancer effects is still developing, despite increased interest in this area. Polysaccharides, one of the compounds present in mushrooms, have been researched for their ability to strengthen the immune system and fight cancer. For instance, lentinan from shiitake mushrooms and PSK (polysaccharide-K) from turkey tail mushrooms have demonstrated the potential to increase chemotherapy efficacy and increase cancer patients' chances of survival. But it's crucial to handle this subject carefully. Under the advice of medical specialists, mushrooms may supplement standard cancer therapies rather than take their place. More investigation is required to comprehend their function and effectiveness in cancer therapy completely.”

Further adding another responseto the claim, Dr. Jyoti Mehta, Radiation and Clinical Oncologist,TGH Onco-Life Cancer Centre, Talegaon clarified,"  Mushrooms or medicinal mushrooms are believed to cure cancer as they contain certain anti-cancer components. However, this claim hasn’t been verified yet. There are no studies, research, or evidence available regarding the effectiveness of mushrooms in curing cancer. Agaricus blazei, a type of mushroom, is known to decrease the growth of cancer cells and boost the immune system. Other species of mushrooms, like reishi and maitake, have also shown potential in curing cancer. These mushrooms may carry natural components that might help prevent cancer cells from growing further, but going on hearsay is not a good idea. Don’t eat mushrooms just because others are doing so or they have been promoted on social media. Mushrooms can also help strengthen the body's defense mechanism against cancer by improving the immune system and are safe to eat, they will not help you to manage cancer. One will need to undergo combination treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy to battle cancer. You will be shocked to know that wild mushrooms are poisonous and create havoc on your health. Even those suffering from any type of food allergy should avoid mushroom intake. Furthermore, eating mushrooms mindlessly can cause liver or kidney toxicity and give a tough time to an individual. It is better to consult an expert if you are adding mushrooms to your daily diet and be assured about the quantity. Anything consumed in excess can do more harm than good. Cancer patients should strictly follow the treatment plan devised by the doctor only. Though eating mushrooms is one of the factors for cancer management, only depending on them for dealing with cancer is a strict no-no."

Medical Dialogues Final Take:

No, mushrooms and/or chives cannot cure cancer. Although mushrooms do possess some anti-cancer agents, the claim that a soup made out of mushrooms and/or chives can cure cancer is FALSE.

REFERENCES:

1.https://training.seer.cancer.gov/disease/cancer/#:~:text=The%20simplest%20definition%20is%20from,it%20can%20result%20in%20death.

2.https://www.cancer.org/cancer/understanding-cancer/what-is-cancer.html.

3.Gao CM, Takezaki T, Ding JH, Li MS, Tajima K. Protective effect of Allium vegetables against both esophageal and stomach cancer: a simultaneous case-referent study of a high-epidemic area in Jiangsu Province, China. Jpn J Cancer Res 90:614–621 (1999).

4. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative-therapies/individual-therapies/mushrooms-in-cancer-treatment.

5.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6353236/#:~:text=The%20meta%E2%80%90analysis%20results%20showed,2.51%2C%20P%20%3D%200.02).

6.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9504980/.

7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4320875/