When Joe Tippens got the news that his cancer had progressed to late-stage, he was told by doctors at MD Anderson that he likely only had three months to live. Rather than accept that, the Oklahoma man took matters into his own hands and began searching the internet for alternative ways to keep himself alive. He tried curcumin, CBD oil and mega doses of vitamin E. But it’s a dog dewormer that Tippens credits with keeping him around for two more years and counting.
The ingredient in the dewormer is fenbendazole, which is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to rid dogs and other animals of parasitic worms. It’s also available in human medications called albendazole and mebendazole. And though experts say there isn’t enough evidence to prove that it’s an effective cancer treatment for humans, fenbendazole does appear to suppress cancer cells in vitro.
It works by stopping the proper growth of microtubules, which essentially provide structure to all cells, including cancerous ones. Cancer cells have more of these microtubules than normal cells, and targeting them is an established method of some cancer treatments.
Besides its ideal structure as an anticancer agent, fenbendazole is also inexpensive and readily available over-the-counter in the form of generic drugs under brand names like Safe Guard, Pro Sense and Panacur. Those facts have fueled an ever-growing number of anecdotal reports, as well as a widening debate about its effectiveness and safety in humans.dewormer for cancer