Experts Warn Against Herbal Treatments for Cancer

In the last ten years, cancer cases have been rising in Nigeria. This trend is worrying, especially with more young adults and teens being diagnosed with cancer early.

Cancer is a broad term for many diseases affecting different parts of the body. People also refer to it as malignant tumors or neoplasms.

A key characteristic of cancer is the fast growth of abnormal cells. These cells can invade nearby areas and spread to other organs.

The European Society of Preventive Medicine says that normal cells turn into tumor cells due to a mix of genetic factors and three types of outside influences.

These influences include physical carcinogens, like ultraviolet and ionizing radiation; chemical carcinogens, such as asbestos, tobacco smoke, alcohol, aflatoxin found in food, and arsenic in drinking water; and biological carcinogens, which include infections from certain viruses, bacteria, or parasites.

The spread of these abnormal cells is called metastasis. Health experts believe that widespread metastases cause most cancer deaths.

Globally, cancer is a leading cause of death. It accounts for about 9.8 million to 10 million deaths each year, roughly one in every six deaths, according to the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

The WHO states that almost a quarter of all cancer deaths link directly to five changeable lifestyle and diet factors: tobacco, alcohol, high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, and lack of exercise.

Herbal and Miraculous Claims

When Imelda Idiowa (not her real name) found a strange lump on her breast in 2024, she told her friend, a doctor in Ibadan, Oyo State. Her friend suggested a herbal remedy that claimed to cure all lumps and even cancer.

“My friend said the herb would help me. It comes from roots and barks, and many cancer patients were cured. I drank it from a big keg for over a year.

“Now, the lump became cancerous, and when the pain got too much, I went to the hospital. They said it was too late,” Idiowa shared with Sunday PUNCH.

Idiowa’s story is like that of Patricia in Lagos State. She noticed lumps on her breasts but avoided medical help.

“I was told it was a spiritual issue, not a hospital problem. I fasted, prayed, and sought deliverance, believing I was healed. But the situation worsened.

“My family and I are now looking for donations for surgery. The doctors said I delayed coming to the hospital, and the surgery is urgent. But where will we find the money for treatment?” Patricia asked.

Recalling his father's death, a Lagos engineer, Toriola, said, “My father wasn’t diagnosed with prostate cancer in time. We spent a lot going from place to place for treatment.

“When the medications didn’t work, we turned to herbal remedies and consulted seers and clerics. When he returned to a federal hospital, he was bleeding and unconscious until he died,” he explained.

In Nigeria, many people believe in herbal and miraculous cures, whether in the predominantly Muslim North or the Christian South. Some think that “cancer is not for hospitals.” Others believe it comes from spiritual forces or witchcraft. Because of these beliefs, many cancer patients seek help from spiritual healers instead of hospitals.

This leads to late diagnoses, higher death rates, and preventable deaths. While there’s no scientific proof that any herbal remedy can cure cancer, social media is full of vendors claiming they can cure all cancer stages.

Two months ago, when the family of late actor Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo) revealed he had cancer, many people sent herbal remedies to his hospital in Lagos.

A traditional herbal practitioner said someone in America offered him N10 million to treat the actor, but he turned it down. Many on social media, including alternative healers, claimed to have cures for stage 4 cancer.

A pharmacist, Saleh Maidoki, shared that he met families who arrived at the hospital after six months of using “herbs that shrink tumors” and massaging lumps.

He stated, “By then, the conversation changed from cure to damage control. In Nigeria, we lose too many people not because science cannot help but because they come late.”

Dr Runcie Chidebe, an oncology researcher and Executive Director of Project PINK BLUE in Abuja, said trusting herbal vendors for cancer treatment is dangerous. He explained that patients waste their lives, money, and hope on products and claims that lack evidence and harm them.

“As a cancer advocate for over 10 years, I have seen many patients use herbal remedies after early diagnosis. When they realize it doesn’t work and return to the hospital, their cancers are often at late stages, making them uncurable,” Chidebe told Sunday PUNCH.

He also criticized the government for failing Nigerians by creating a healthcare system that is difficult and costly. He said that many cancer patients believe in herbal claims because of poverty and the high cost of hospital care.

“The government doesn’t do enough to educate people about health issues. There are weak policies against health misinformation and no enforcement. It’s sad. We live in a country where criticizing the government can get you arrested, but those spreading harmful health claims face no consequences.

“We grew up seeing ministers as educators, but now they are just political defenders. The National Orientation Agency used to educate us with music; now, we hardly see them leading in education,” Chidebe added.

He called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Communication to enforce strict policies against health misinformation.

Blending Faith with Alternative Therapies

Recently, some well-known Nigerian pastors have shared stories of being healed from cancer or healing others, often mixing faith, medical treatments, and miracles.

In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, a professor at Covenant University and director of research at Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre in Lagos, Solomon Rotimi, said fear can make people attracted to promises of a cure when diagnosed with cancer.

He noted that in Nigeria, high treatment costs, late diagnoses, and the belief that cancer is a death sentence make many vulnerable to such claims.

“But claims of miraculous or herbal cures are not new and should not be dismissed. Some established cancer medicines come from plants.

“This shows nature’s healing potential, but it doesn’t prove all herbal remedies work. What makes a treatment effective is scientific proof of safety and effectiveness.

“Anyone can claim to cure cancer, but such claims often come from personal experiences. Personal stories alone do not prove a treatment works. Faith is deeply personal and belongs to spirituality. Science cannot judge every religious experience,” Rotimi explained.

The clinical biochemistry professor emphasized that seeking medical help doesn’t mean rejecting faith. Taking action is also a step of faith.

“Evidence-based cancer care offers treatments that have been thoroughly studied. The medical community must earn public trust.

“When people see cancer patients dying after treatment without understanding late diagnoses and medical issues, they may think medicine doesn’t work. We need to change this narrative by sharing real stories of survivors and showing that timely treatment can save lives.

“Ultimately, the Nigerian government must make cancer care affordable and accessible. Faith and medical treatment don’t have to compete. We deserve both faith freedom and access to treatments backed by solid evidence,” Rotimi added.

Dr Goodness Oghotomo, a physician at a federal government teaching hospital, described the growing reliance on herbal remedies as “a serious public health concern.”

He pointed out that some herbal vendors say their products can cure all types of cancer, including stage IV. Some religious groups tell patients to avoid hospital diagnoses and treatment in favor of prayer or holy water.

“One major risk is delayed treatment. Cancer can worsen while patients trust unproven remedies, losing chances for effective treatment. Even stage IV cancers can respond to treatment, improving survival and quality of life. Ignoring evidence-based care can have terrible results.

“Additionally, some herbal products might have harmful ingredients, causing liver or kidney damage, or reacting with cancer drugs. Patients may also face financial exploitation and emotional distress when cures fail.

“We need public education and better regulation. The government and agencies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control should monitor false claims and misleading ads,” Oghotomo said.

He urged healthcare workers to educate patients on treatment benefits and risks while respecting their cultural beliefs. He also said community leaders should encourage combining spiritual support with appropriate medical care.

“Improving access to affordable cancer diagnosis and treatment could reduce reliance on questionable alternatives. Patients should not have to choose between faith and proven medicine.

“Prayer and spiritual support can help, but unproven remedies should never replace effective cancer treatment. Patients deserve compassion, honest information, and protection from those who exploit their hope,” Oghotomo concluded.