• No one treatment works for every cancer or every body. All cancers are different. Even two people with the same diagnosis may need different treatments. That’s one reason it's best to be skeptical of any website with ads for products that claim to treat cancer.
• Natural doesn't always mean effective. Scammers take advantage of the feelings that can accompany a diagnosis of cancer. They promote unproven – and potentially dangerous – remedies like black salve, essiac tea, or laetrile with claims that the products are both “natural” and effective. But “natural” doesn’t mean either safe or effective when it comes to using these treatments for cancer. In fact, a product labeled “natural,” can be ineffective and even downright harmful.
• Bogus marketers often use trickery and vague language to take advantage of people. Testimonials on websites with ads for products that claim to cure or treat cancer can seem honest and heart-felt, but they can be completely fake: in fact, they may not disclose that actors or models have been paid to endorse the product. Even when testimonials come from people who have taken the product, personal stories aren’t reliable as evidence of effectiveness.
• Lots of technical jargon may sound impressive, but by itself, doesn’t prove effectiveness. Big words from a medical dictionary are no substitute for the plain-language facts from your doctor.
• A money-back guarantee doesn't prove that a product works. Even if the money-back guarantee is legitimate, it isn't a reliable substitute for scientific evidence that a treatment is safe or effective.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)  are fire retardant chemicals that are added to plastics and foam products so that they become more fire resistant. They are widely used in electronics, furniture, and other products in the home. A small pilot study conducted by the Environmental Working Group has found that levels of PBDEs in toddlers were typically about three times higher than levels in their mothers.

There is some concern from scientists that PBDEs, which are hormone-disrupting chemicals that build up in the blood and tissues, may cause brain damage in animals and hyperactivity in children. However, the health effects of PBDEs in people are unclear. It is not surprising that this chemical was found in higher levels in young children compared to their mothers given that children frequently put their hands and objects into their mouths.

Some tips for parents to reduce their child’s exposure to PBDEs and other similar environmental contaminants include:

• Minimize a child’s direct contact with products that may have PBDEs, such as TVs, stereos, upholstered furniture, and mattresses
• Wash a child’s hands before every meal
• Keep your home as dust free as possible with regular dusting and vacuuming
• Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter

For more advice about how to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants, ask a Healia Health Expert or Community member.