Cancer is part of the body's healing response: tumours are bags that collect toxins, and biopsies release those toxins back into the body.
Spread on: Facebook graphic, shared repeatedly (UK)
The real story
This graphic has done the rounds many times. Tumours are not protective pouches of toxins and they serve no healing purpose. There is an extremely small chance a needle biopsy can spread cancer cells along the needle track, but overall biopsies lead to better outcomes and higher survival. Full Fact describes the claim as false and potentially harmful.
The fact-checker's verdict: “False”. Our label never goes further than theirs.
Be wary of any post that recasts a serious disease as secretly helpful; that framing is often used to steer people away from proven diagnosis and treatment.
The receipts
False claim cancer is 'trying to heal' shared online yet again ↗
Full Fact · 2026-09-22
