Poorva Chavan
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The biggest problem of being on WhatsApp is the number of false and untrue message forwards that we get. Today, I got this forward which claims that the CURE for cancer has been found. The message begins with most clickbaity-headline. Breaking News in Medical Field: Medicine for Blood Cancer has been found. And as other forwards, it too urges Indians not to delete it without forwarding it to others as it can save a life.
The message talks about a medicine called Imitinef Mercilet which is apparently a cure for cancer and that it is available free of cost at Adyar Cancer Institute, Chennai.
Here's the screenshot of the message I received--
As you can see the message also lists the number and the address of the institute.
I believe that such WhatsApp forwards should always be taken with a pinch of salt and one should thoroughly check the sources of these messages. So I did some online research about this message and found a whole bunch of news reports that try to clarify that this message is indeed a hoax. A Facebook page called WhatsApp hoaxes also tries to clarify that this is just a hoax and not the truth. However, going through the message posted on their page, it is pretty evident that different versions of this message have been doing rounds. The message posted on this Facebook page says that this drug is available free of cost in Pune at a Hematology centre. This message too contains the correct address and the phone number of the Institute but according to the post, the mobile number is not working. The post also clarifies that this drug is indeed available but is only used to treat cancer and there is o promise of curing it. You can read the entire post here-
I tried getting in touch with Cancer Institute, Chennai but haven't been able to reach the director. The moment I get in touch with him, I shall update this article with what the Institue has to say about it.
However, one very important thing we need to do before blindly forwarding such messages is that verify if they are true. Cancer is a deadly disease and one cannot understand the vulnerability and helplessness of a cancer patient and his family. Such messages only give false hopes to the patient and his family which is highly insensitive and should be avoided at all costs.