What is Cancer FactFinder and what does it offer?

Cancer FactFinder is a website that answers the question "what actually causes cancer – and what doesn't?" It summarizes evidence-based scientific information from human studies and presents it in everyday language. If you have ever wondered whether a specific product, food, habit, or exposure is linked to cancer, this site is designed to give you a clear, research-backed answer rather than leaving you to sort through social media claims on your own.

What the site actually does

The homepage frames its purpose around three goals:

• Setting the record straight – offering clear, evidence-based information from the scientific community about what does and does not cause cancer, so you can make informed choices.
• Educating the public – providing strategies for evaluating information about cancer causes, so you can become a more careful consumer of news and social media.
• Acting as a hub for tools and resources – connecting users with reliable information on cancer risk and prevention from established experts, plus recommendations for trustworthy books, apps, podcasts, and other materials.

The site also states its broader mission directly: to debunk cancer myths, empower users to be skilled factcheckers, and share trustworthy resources about cancer prevention.

How the claim database is organized

The core feature is a searchable database of claims. You can search for a claim directly, or browse by category. The categories listed on the homepage, with the number of claims in each at the time of the page content, are:

These counts reflect what the site displayed when the page was captured, so the numbers may have grown since.

Submitting a topic you want researched

If you can't find a claim you're curious about, the site accepts suggestions for new topics. The submission form asks for:

• Your email (required)
• Your name (required)
• A category selection (Consumer products, Diet & nutrition, Lifestyle, Medical Issue or Treatment, Occupational & environmental exposure, or Other)
• A topic idea
• An optional checkbox to be notified if the topic is added to the Cancer FactFinder
• Agreement to the privacy policy and consent to processing your personal data

The site says submissions are shared with its research team for consideration.

Why the site says this question is hard to answer

The homepage includes a section titled "Why is it so hard to figure out what causes cancer?" and notes that many people worry about whether things they come into contact with might cause cancer, often turning to social media, internet searches, and friends or family. The site's position is that it can be really hard to know which of that information is reliable and true — which is the gap it aims to fill by summarizing the best available evidence from studies in humans.

When this site is useful to you

Cancer FactFinder is a good starting point if you want a plain-language summary of what human research says about a specific cancer claim, or if you want to browse by category to check concerns about diet, products, lifestyle, medical treatments, or environmental exposures. It is also useful if you have a claim you want researched and are willing to submit it for the team to consider.

It is not a diagnostic tool or a source of personal medical advice — it is an evidence-summary and fact-checking resource. For decisions about your own health, use it as background reading alongside guidance from a qualified professional.