By: Vivek J
June 15 2023
No, there have been no 'turbo cancers' detected as a result of COVID-19 vaccines
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Fact-Check
The Verdict False
There is no clinical evidence linking COVID-19 vaccines to cancers, and no diagnoses are referred to as “turbo cancers.”
Claim ID bf72d555
Context
In a video circulating on Facebook, Dr. Charles Hoffe, a physician known for propagating misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines, claims that cases of "turbo cancer" have developed since the pandemic, and are caused by COVID-19 vaccines. However, Hoffe provides no clinical evidence to back these claims.
A longer version of the video can be found on Rumble, which is known for hosting videos propagating conspiracies and misinformation. Shorter versions of this video are widely shared on other social media platforms.
There are no references to "turbo cancers" in medical journals or clinical research.
In Fact
No studies show a drastic increase in cancer detection of an advanced stage or link them to COVID-19 vaccines or refer to a more aggressive form of cancer named “turbo-cancer,” as claimed in the viral video. Studies show that disruptions in medical treatment for cancer patients may have led to patients presenting with more advanced stages of cancer than if they had been able to seek treatment earlier, without disruptions caused by the pandemic.
A study by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) noted that two-thirds of the physicians surveyed noted that “new patients are presenting with more advanced disease than before the pandemic.” It also noted that several existing patients faced pandemic-related disruptions during the treatment.
Several studies report a decline in cancer diagnoses due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measures. One such study by the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network noted a majority of patients surveyed were "concerned about access to in-person care, including being cared for in a hospital/emergency room and receiving various tests and treatment.”
A National Library of Medicine article titled “Decrease of cancer diagnosis during COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis,” noted that there was a steep decline in cancer care provided during the pandemic. It said, “Several retrospective studies confirmed a decrease or delay in oncologic surgical procedures, cancer screening tests, clinic visits, and a significant decline in newly identified patients with cancer. As a consequence, delay of the diagnosis may become more frequent, resulting in poorer outcomes.”
The speakers in the video, Dr. Charles Hoffe and Stephen Malthouse, have made numerous false claims about the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccination drive that followed. Logically Facts has previously debunked claims made by Dr. Hoffe about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. Stephen Malthouse was suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia in March 2022 for signing vaccine and mask exemption forms knowing they included false statements.
The Verdict
There is no reference to “turbo cancer” in any reputed medical studies or journals. There is also no evidence linking COVID-19 vaccines to more advanced and deadly cancer forms, as the video claims. These claims were made by people known for propagating misinformation on COVID-19 and vaccination against the infection. Therefore, we have marked this claim as false.
