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| - Last Updated on July 31, 2024 by Dr Priyamvada
Quick Take
A viral message claims that IMITINEF MERCILET, a blood cancer cure, is available for free at Yashoda Hematology Cancer Institute, Pune. Our investigation found this claim to be misleading. ‘Imitinef Mercilet’ seems to be a misspelling of Imatinib mesylate, a drug used to treat certain types of leukaemia and other cancers.
The Claim
A message is circulating on social media. It claims that a medicine named IMITINEF MERCILET can cure blood cancer. The message also states that the medicine is available free of cost at a cancer institute in Pune.
Here is a snapshot of the viral message:
Fact Check
Is there really a drug which cures blood cancer?
No, our fact check reveals, there is no such drug which can cure blood cancer or leukaemia. Also, Yashoda Hematology Cancer Institute from Pune is not offering such drug. We performed a Google search using relevant keywords. Our investigation revealed that various versions of this message have been doing rounds since 2010 with different details of the hospitals. Many posts shared earlier mentioned the name of Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai and not Yashoda Clinic of Pune. Here are some examples:
Team THIP tried calling the numbers mentioned on the viral message in order to seek information of the medicine mentioned. All the numbers mentioned were disconnected or unreachable.
On Practo, we found a doctor responding to an enquiry related the medicine named ‘IMITINEF MERCILET’. Dr Kaushal Yadav, Surgical Oncologist responded: “Any drug is given based on certain characteristics of cancer. There is no blind drug for all cancer.”
In a press conference held in 2012, Dr Vishal Rao, Consultant, Head and Neck surgery, HCG Cancer, said,
“We don’t know who are spreading such rumours or it’s just a trick. People are coming to us and inquiring about it. In allopathic medical system, we only prescribe evidence based medicine which cures the disease.”
Here is a Times of India coverage on the Press Conference.
Team THIP contacted Dr Manish Singhal, Oncologist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Noida, asking the information related to the viral claim. He states, “The correct name of the medicine is IMATINIB MESYLATE. It is for chronic myeloid leukemia, a chronic blood cancer. It is a slow cancer. Even if untreated usual survival is 5 years. So not all cancers. IMATINIB is a breakthrough no doubt. It is Novartis research product. Trade name is GLIVEC. Doctors registered under GLIVEC INTERNATIONAL PATIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (GIPAP) can prescribe.”
Is the drug available free of cost?
While the IMATINIB medicine is not applicable for all types of cancers, Adyar Cancer Institute as mentioned in the messages circulated online provides free treatment for cancer.
Team THIP searched the claim on the official website of Adyar Cancer Institute and it read: Of the hospital beds, only 40% are paying beds and the remaining are general beds where patients are boarded and lodged free of cost. 40% of the patients are treated totally free and remaining patients pay a nominal amount.
As per SEHAT (an online database and finder of doctors across India), Adyar Cancer Institute is mentioned in the list of top hospitals in India that offer free cancer treatment. The description in SEHAT reads: Out of its 535 beds, 40 percent are chargeable and on an average 66% get either free or reduced rate treatment.
However, there is no such mention at Pune’s Yashoda Hematology Clinic’s social media pages.
THIP Media Take
The message claiming IMITINEF MERCILET cures blood cancer is misleading. ‘Imitinef Mercilet’ is apparently a misspelling spelling of the drug Imatinib mesylate as mentioned in the viral message. The medicine is used in the treatment of some forms of leukaemia along with other types of cancer. Cancer is a complex disease. But, sadly has been a subject of misinformation like hot coconut water can kill cancer or miraculous preventive measures like Buddhi Mudra for cancer prevention. Scientific evidence does not support any of these, and no particular food or exercise can cure or prevent cancer for life.
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