How Cancer FactFinder Evaluates Claims About What Causes Cancer

Cancer FactFinder answers whether a claim about cancer causes is true or false by summarizing the best evidence-based scientific information available from studies in humans, then translating that research into everyday language. Its stated goal is to debunk cancer myths, help users become skilled factcheckers, and share trustworthy prevention resources. The site is a reference for evaluating cancer-related claims — not a source of personal medical advice.

Where the answers come from

The site's stated method is to draw on evidence-based scientific information from studies in humans and present it in plain language. That matters because human studies are the evidence most directly relevant to questions about human cancer risk.

The site also acknowledges why this is genuinely difficult: its own framing asks "Why is it so hard to figure out what causes cancer?" — signaling that the science behind cause-and-effect claims is often unsettled or slow to develop, and that a simple true/false label can require careful reading of the underlying research.

How claims are organized

Claims are grouped into categories, each with a count of covered topics:

You can search the database for a claim, or browse by category if you don't have a specific question in mind.

What you can do on the site

• Look up a claim. Search the database or browse a category to find whether a specific cancer-related claim is supported or not.
• Submit a new claim topic. If a claim isn't covered, you can send it to the research team for consideration using the form on the page. The form asks for your email, name, a category (Consumer products, Diet & nutrition, Lifestyle, Medical Issue or Treatment, Occupational & environmental exposure, or Other), your topic idea, and consent to the privacy policy. You can also opt in to be notified if the topic is added.
• Learn to evaluate information yourself. The site provides strategies for assessing claims about cancer causes so you can judge news and social media content on your own.
• Find further resources. It acts as a hub connecting users to information on cancer risk and prevention from established experts, plus recommendations for books, apps, podcasts, and other materials.

How to use it well

1. Start with a search for the specific claim you've encountered — for example, a product, food, or exposure you saw flagged online.
2. Check the category the claim falls under to see how the site frames that type of risk.
3. Read the plain-language summary rather than relying on the headline alone, since the site's purpose is to explain the evidence, not just label something true or false.
4. If nothing matches, submit the topic so the research team can consider adding it.
5. Use the evaluation strategies the site offers to assess other claims you run into outside the database.

What it is not

Cancer FactFinder is a public education and fact-checking resource. It summarizes research and shares prevention information; it does not provide personal medical guidance, and its claim entries are not a substitute for advice from a qualified professional about your own situation.