Rising number of cancer patients are skipping chemo and opting for ivermectin instead, analysis finds

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A rising number of cancer patients are being prescribed ivermectin instead of undergoing chemotherapy, a new report has found.

A report published by the JAMA Network found that ivermectin prescriptions for cancer patients doubled between January and July 2025. Researchers also found that white southern males were most likely to take the drug.

Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic medication primarily used by veterinarians. It was popularized among humans by Covid vaccine skeptics during the pandemic. It has no proven medicinal properties beyond being an effective treatment for parasitic infections. Cancer is not a parasitic infection as it is a mutation of cells.

The study, titled Ivermectin-Benzimidazole Prescribing Following Celebrity Endorsement, stated: “The elevated prescribing observed among patients with cancer is particularly concerning; individuals facing life-threatening illness may delay or forgo conventional treatments in favor of unproven therapies, potentially allowing their disease to progress.”

A growing number of cancer patients are choosing to take ivermectin instead of undergoing chemotherapy (Associated Press)

The celebrity endorsement in the title was from actor Mel Gibson, who told Joe Rogan in 2025 that three of his friends survived cancer by taking ivermectin and benzimidazole, a compound found in agricultural chemicals.

Drs Michelle S. Rockwell, Katherine L. Kahn and A. Mark Fendrick, who authored the study, wrote in their report: “The podcast in which celebrities endorsed combination ivermectin-benzimidazoles for cancer treatment was viewed by more than 60 million individuals across multiple platforms.

“The demographic and regional variation that we observed in prescribing rates mirror the audience characteristics of the podcasts and media platforms promoting these regimens, suggesting selective amplification and reach of health misinformation.”

Mel Gibson’s appearance on Joe Rogan was cited by researchers as a reason behind the increase in ivermectin cancer disinformation (PA Wire)

The study found that ivermectin prescriptions have gone up for patients across the board, and are 2.5 times higher among cancer patients between January 1 and July 31, 2025, than they were in the same time period in 2024.

Gibson appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience on January 9, 2025.

MacMillan Cancer Support chief medical officer Richard Simcock said in a press release: “There is currently zero real-world clinical evidence that it might be helpful in the treatment of cancer. And yet, with just a few clicks on X and Instagram, I was astounded by the sheer number of people professing ivermectin’s benefits for cancer treatment and even trying to find ways to buy it.”

He explained that a lot of the disinformation stems from some existing studies of ivermectin in the lab showing that the drug has the potential to help induce death in cancer cells when taken alongside conventional treatment.

Joe Rogan’s January 9 episode is being credited for a boom in cancer patients taking ivermectin as treatment, despite it having no proven benefits (Joe Rogan Experience, YouTube)

However, Simcock stressed that lab studies cannot be directly replicated in humans.

Additionally, even the more promising lab tests were taken in conjunction with existing cancer drugs. Ivermectin and benzimidazole have never shown themselves to be effective in fighting cancer on their own.

Not only is ivermectin not a proven treatment, it can also increase nausea and discomfort in cancer patients.

Despite Secretary of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr., promoting the use of ivermectin as an alternative to the Covid vaccine on his podcast prior to working for the White House, Ivermectin is not currently regulated by the Food and Drug Adminstration for anything beyond fighting parasites.

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