When Joe Tippens’ doctors told him he had cancer, they said he had only a short time to live. So he did what anyone would do in the face of such an overwhelming challenge: he combed the internet for alternative treatments. He began taking curcumin, CBD oil, mega doses of vitamin E — and a drug commonly used to rid animals of parasites called fenbendazole. Although the FDA has not approved it for use in humans, he figured it wouldn’t hurt to act as his own guinea pig.
In recent years, studies suggesting that anti-worm drugs might have cancer-fighting properties have been cropping up in a growing number of journals. But, even if these findings are true, it’s important to remember that, as in people, dogs are ideal hosts for many types of parasites.
Dogs sniff, lick, and chew their way through life, picking up worms and other pests along the way. These pests can cause a variety of symptoms, from diarrhea to vomiting, and in some cases, they can lead to more serious illnesses like cancer.
Various posts on social media sites like Facebook and TikTok claim that the dog dewormer medication fenbendazole cures cancer in people, including the anecdotal account of Joe Tippens (videos of the TikTok videos have been removed). Some peer-reviewed studies suggest fenbendazole might be able to treat human cancer, but researchers say more study is needed. The National Cancer Institute and the Food and Drug Administration have no research to support these claims. In fact, if a person takes fenbendazole or other benzimidazole anthelmintics in the hopes of treating a cancer diagnosis, they could potentially trigger a reaction that results in severe itching, swelling, or bleeding. dog dewormer cancer