A STEP-BY-STEP CRITIQUE OF THE MESSAGE "SUMMARY OF THE POINTS RAISED AT THE MEDICAL CONFERENCE ON MALIGNANT DISEASES IN BERLIN"

By Dr. Weriwoyingipre Silver Yeibake 

Paediatrics, Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa

First, the Source Claim

The message says it is a summary from a “medical conference on malignant diseases in Berlin, Germany.” However, there is no credible evidence that such a conference produced this list of claims.

A genuine medical conference would normally have a clear name, organisers, dates, speakers, programme, abstracts, published proceedings, or links to recognised medical organisations. This message provides none of these. It also refers vaguely to an “American Physicians Association,” rather than a clearly identifiable, recognised professional body.

That does not automatically mean that every single health tip in the post is wrong. But it is a major warning sign: readers should not treat it as an official cancer-prevention report.

How to Read the List

The message combines:

- A few reasonable lifestyle recommendations

- Some advice that is harmless but unnecessary

- Several claims that are false

- Some statements that could frighten people or harm cancer patients

Below is a clear review of each point.

“No To” Claims

1. Reusing Cooking Oil

Partly true, but exaggerated.

Repeatedly heating oil—especially until it becomes dark, thick, smoky, or develops an unpleasant odour—is not a healthy practice. It can produce breakdown products and reduce the quality of the oil.

However, this does not mean that using cooking oil more than once automatically causes cancer. The sensible advice is to avoid repeatedly overheating oil, avoid using oil that is visibly degraded, and use safer cooking methods where possible.

2. Powdered Milk

False.

There is no good evidence that powdered milk causes cancer. Powdered milk can be safely consumed when it is produced, stored and prepared properly.

For infants, breast milk is preferred where possible, while properly prepared infant formula is an appropriate alternative when breastfeeding is not possible or not sufficient.

3. Maggi Cubes or Seasoning Cubes

Misleading.

Seasoning cubes are not proven to cause cancer. Their main nutritional concern is that they can be high in salt, which may worsen hypertension when used heavily and frequently.

The practical advice is moderation and using natural herbs, spices, onions, garlic, ginger, and local seasonings where possible—not fear that a seasoning cube is a cancer-causing substance.

4. Carbonated Drinks

Partly true, but the explanation is wrong.

Sugar-sweetened drinks should be limited because regular high intake can contribute to excess weight, diabetes and tooth decay. Excess body weight is linked with a higher risk of several cancers.

But carbonation itself does not cause cancer. The sugar content also differs across brands and serving sizes, so stating that all carbonated drinks contain exactly “32 sugar cubes per litre” is inaccurate.

5. Processed Sugar

Needs context.

Reducing excess added sugar is sensible, especially for people with obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease or dental problems. However, sugar is not a direct poison and does not uniquely feed cancer cells.

The body uses glucose for energy, and normal cells need it too. A person with cancer should not be placed on a restrictive diet that worsens appetite, weight loss or malnutrition.

6. Microwave Use

False.

Microwave ovens do not cause cancer when used correctly. They heat food using non-ionising radiation and do not make food radioactive.

The reasonable safety advice is to use microwave-safe glass, ceramic, or clearly labelled food-safe containers. Avoid heating food in damaged plastic or containers not intended for microwave use.

7. “No Prenatal Mammogram; Use Eco-Mamar”

Confusing and unsafe.

“Eco-mamar” is not a standard medical term. If a pregnant woman develops a breast lump or other concerning symptom, she should see a clinician promptly.

Breast ultrasound is commonly the first investigation during pregnancy. Mammography may still be performed in selected situations when medically necessary, with appropriate protection and specialist guidance. Pregnancy should never be used as a reason to ignore a suspicious breast symptom.

8. Tight Bras Cause Cancer

False.

There is no reliable evidence that tight bras, underwire bras, or wearing bras after work cause breast cancer. A tight bra may be uncomfortable or irritate the skin, but discomfort is not the same as cancer.

9. Alcohol

True.

Alcohol increases the risk of several cancers, including cancers of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, liver, breast and bowel. The safest approach for cancer prevention is to avoid alcohol or drink as little as possible.

10. Reheating Frozen Meals

False, with a food-safety caveat.

Reheating frozen meals does not cause cancer. The real concern is food safety: thaw food safely, refrigerate leftovers promptly, reheat thoroughly, and avoid repeatedly cooling and reheating the same meal.

11. Refrigerated Water in Plastic Bottles

Mostly false.

Storing drinking water in a suitable food-grade plastic bottle in the refrigerator is not known to cause cancer. The more sensible precaution is to avoid exposing plastic bottles to high heat, direct sunlight, or prolonged wear and tear.

If someone prefers, glass or stainless-steel containers are practical alternatives, but fear of refrigerated plastic water is not evidence-based.

12. Contraceptives Cause Cancer

Oversimplified and misleading.

Hormonal contraceptives can affect cancer risk in different ways. Some forms may be associated with small changes in the risk of certain cancers, while they can lower the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers.

No woman should stop contraception because of a viral message. The best option depends on her age, personal and family history, breastfeeding status, smoking, blood-pressure level, clotting risk and previous cancer history. This decision should be made with a qualified health professional.

13. Deodorants, Especially After Shaving

False.

There is no convincing evidence that deodorants or antiperspirants cause breast cancer. Applying them after shaving can sometimes cause irritation, burning or a rash, especially in sensitive skin, but irritation is not cancer.

People with irritation can wait briefly after shaving, use a fragrance-free product, or stop the product if it causes a rash.

14. Breastfeeding and Formula Feeding

Partly true, but poorly worded.

Breastfeeding is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer for mothers, particularly with longer cumulative breastfeeding duration. It also has important health benefits for babies.

But formula feeding does not “cause” cancer. Mothers who cannot breastfeed, choose not to breastfeed, or need to supplement should not be blamed or frightened. Properly prepared infant formula is a safe and important feeding option when needed.

15. “Cancer Cells Eat Sugar”

Misleading.

Cancer cells use glucose, but so do the brain, muscles and every other healthy tissue in the body. Removing sugar from the diet does not starve cancer cells while leaving normal cells unaffected.

A balanced diet remains important during cancer treatment. Patients who are losing weight, have poor appetite, or have difficulty swallowing should seek advice from their oncology team or a dietitian rather than follow rigid online diets.

16. Sugar Abstinence Makes Cancer Recede

False.

There is no credible evidence that simply avoiding sugar makes cancer disappear, shrink, or stop progressing. Reducing added sugar may support general health, but it is not a cure for cancer.

This claim can be particularly harmful because it may make patients feel responsible for their disease or encourage them to reject chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, or other proven care.

17. Beer Stays in the Body for Five Hours

Inaccurate as a general statement.

The time it takes the body to process alcohol varies widely. It depends on the amount consumed, body size, sex, liver health, food intake, medicines and many other factors.

Alcohol can impair judgement, coordination and reaction time, but claiming that one cup of beer remains in everyone’s body for exactly five hours and makes organs work “in slow motion” is not medically precise.

“Yes To” Claims

1. Vegetables

True.

A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains and other fibre-rich foods supports overall health and may help reduce the risk of some cancers. Variety matters more than relying on one “special” vegetable.

2. Honey Instead of Sugar

Needs moderation.

Honey is still a form of added sugar. It may be less processed than table sugar, but it still contributes calories and can raise blood glucose.

It can be used occasionally in small amounts if a person enjoys it, but it is not a cancer-prevention treatment or a healthier unlimited substitute for sugar.

3. Beans Instead of Meat

Partly true.

Beans, lentils, peas and other plant proteins are nutritious, affordable and rich in fibre. They are excellent foods to include regularly.

But meat does not need to be completely avoided by everyone. Limiting processed meat and avoiding frequent large portions of red meat is more evidence-based than saying that all meat should be replaced.

4. Two Glasses of Water Before Brushing

Harmless, but not special.

Drinking water after waking may be refreshing and can contribute to daily hydration. But there is no evidence that drinking two glasses of room-temperature water before brushing the teeth prevents cancer or has unique detoxifying effects.

People should drink water according to thirst, activity, weather and medical advice, especially if they have heart, kidney or liver disease.

5. Unheated Meals

False and potentially unsafe.

Cooked food is not harmful simply because it has been heated. In fact, cooking can improve safety by killing harmful germs in meat, eggs, fish and other foods.

Some fruits and vegetables can be eaten raw, while other foods should be properly cooked. The goal is safe, varied and balanced meals—not avoiding heated food.

6. Aloe Vera, Ginger, Parsley, Celery and Pineapple “Anti-Cancer Juice”

Unproven.

These ingredients can be part of a normal diet, but there is no evidence that mixing them into a juice cures or prevents cancer. Concentrated aloe-vera products may cause diarrhoea, dehydration, electrolyte disturbances or medicine interactions.

Cancer patients should be especially cautious with herbal mixtures and supplements, because “natural” products can interfere with prescribed treatment.

7. Soursop and Pineapple-Core Juice

Unproven and potentially risky in excess.

Soursop and pineapple are foods, not cancer cures. Claims that soursop cures cancer have not been supported by reliable human clinical trials.

Large amounts of concentrated soursop products or supplements may carry risks, including possible neurological effects. Patients should not replace cancer treatment with soursop juice or any other home mixture.

8. Carrots Every Day

Generally healthy, but not a cure.

Carrots are nutritious and can be eaten raw or cooked as part of a varied diet. They do not prevent or cure cancer on their own.

No single food has the power to cancel cancer risk. It is the overall diet and lifestyle pattern that matters.

Plastic, Hot Drinks and Food Packaging

1. Drinking Tea From a Plastic Cup

The main concern is very hot tea, not tea itself.

Regularly drinking beverages at very high temperatures can damage the oesophagus and may increase the risk of oesophageal cancer. It is safer to allow tea, coffee, soup and other hot drinks to cool before drinking.

Using a suitable food-grade cup is sensible, but the message wrongly turns every plastic cup into a cancer threat.

2. Hot Food in Paper or Plastic Bags

Partly reasonable, but exaggerated.

Hot, oily foods should ideally be placed in containers intended for food service. This is a practical food-safety and quality measure.

However, there is no evidence that eating hot food from a paper or plastic bag automatically causes cancer. The best advice is to use clean, food-safe packaging and avoid unsuitable materials for very hot or oily foods.

3. Plastic in the Microwave

Use care, not fear.

Do not microwave plastic unless it is clearly labelled microwave-safe. Use glass or ceramic containers when possible.

But it is false to say that heated plastic produces chemicals that cause “52 types of cancer.” That figure has no credible scientific basis.

Dangerous Food-Combination Myths

Coca-Cola and Pineapple

False.

Coca-Cola and pineapple, or pineapple juice, do not create poison and do not kill people. The combination may cause bloating, heartburn or stomach discomfort in some individuals, but it is not deadly.

Eggs and Bananas

False.

Eggs and bananas can safely be eaten together. There is no poisonous reaction between them.

A person may become ill after eating any food because of allergy, food contamination, an existing illness or poor storage—not because egg and banana were eaten together.

Banana and Milk

False.

Banana and milk do not poison people. Some individuals may experience bloating due to lactose intolerance or may have milk allergy, but these are individual medical conditions rather than dangerous food combinations.

What the Message Should Say Instead

A safer and more accurate message would be:

> Cancer prevention does not depend on avoiding a list of ordinary foods or fearing popular food combinations. There is no proven anti-cancer juice, no evidence that powdered milk, seasoning cubes, microwaves, bras, deodorants, or refrigerated water cause cancer, and no evidence that avoiding sugar alone can make cancer disappear.  

> To lower cancer risk, avoid tobacco, limit alcohol, maintain a healthy weight, stay physically active, eat a varied diet rich in plant foods, reduce processed meat and excess sugary drinks, take recommended vaccines such as HPV and hepatitis B vaccines, attend appropriate screening, and seek medical advice for persistent symptoms.  

> Anyone diagnosed with cancer should discuss diets, herbs, supplements and alternative remedies with their treating clinician. These products should not replace proven cancer treatment.

*Final Word*

This message should not be shared as a report from a Berlin medical conference. Its source is not verifiable, and many of its claims are inaccurate.

The desire to protect family and friends from cancer is understandable. But the most helpful thing we can share is accurate, calm and evidence-based information—not frightening claims that create confusion, guilt and unnecessary fear.