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Cancer is a group of diseases linked to the abnormal growth of cells, which have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Around the world, a large number of people are affected by cancer. So far, there is no treatment that can completely cure cancer in all cases, but several methods are used to slow down the growth of cancer cells. At the same time, we have also observed various social media posts claiming that medicines for cancer have been discovered through both Western and Ayurvedic treatment methods.
Social Media Posts
In this context, a set of posts first shared in 2019, claiming that a Sri Lankan had discovered a successful method to cure cancer, is now being circulated again. One such post below claims: “To completely cure cancer and help people return to life at a low cost, congratulations to our country’s Gomika for discovering a successful method!”
We also observed that a post originally shared in late January 2019 by an individual named Charaka Silva, under the theme “A tribute to Gomika Udugamasooriya for discovering the compound to cure cancer,” has started circulating once again.
We also observed a similar post shared on a Facebook page named “Mr. Lucky,” claiming that Gomika Udugamasooriya, a professor at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy, had discovered a low-cost method that can specifically identify and destroy only cancer cells. The post further wished that this discovery would help heal thousands of people.
Looking at the responses to these posts, many patients and their relatives were trying to find the professor. Due to this, we focused our attention on verifying the facts behind these claims.
Fact Check :
To verify details about Professor Udugamasooriya, we carried out a Google search. According to the faculty directory of the University of Houston, Professor Gomika Udugamasooriya is listed as an Associate Professor in medicinal chemistry.
The Texas Medical Center also issued a statement in November 2019 regarding his new discovery. The full statement is provided below, but we have included only two paragraphs of it.
“In the world of cancer biology, not all biomarkers are created equal. These molecules that alert doctors that an abnormal process may be underway can appear as an array of aberrant proteins, such as hormones, enzymes or signaling molecules, and vary from patient to patient. Because they are a mixed bag, no one drug exists to attack them. But now, a University of Houston College of Pharmacy associate professor has discovered a new biomarker in cancer stem cells that governs cancer survival and spread, and it’s raising hope that drug discovery to kill cancer stem cells could follow suit.
We have found a new biomarker, the protein plectin, on cancer stem cells. We believe plectin may be a more common biomarker that could lead to broadly applicable drug development,” reports Gomika Udugamasooriya in Nature Scientific Reports. “Plectin is a structural protein, predominantly expressed intracellularly, but whose translocation onto the cell surface is linked to tumor invasion and metastasis.”
Professor Gomika Udugamasooriya
We also observed a statement shared on his Facebook account by Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya regarding the social media posts claiming that he had discovered a cure for cancer.
“News is circulating that I have discovered a medicine to cure cancer. I have never made such a claim.
What I am currently doing is developing compounds (drug candidates) that can identify and target cancer cells, which may possibly become medicines in the future. These are still going through the long process of research and development. There is a big difference between a drug candidate and an actual medicine, and not all drug candidates become approved drugs.
Due to these circulating claims, many cancer patients are trying to contact me. However, I do not have any medicine to offer them, and it is not right to give them false hope. Also, exaggerating such information goes against the ethics of our research.
That said, I am truly grateful for the thousands of messages, wishes, and blessings shared in support of what is being described as ‘a proud discovery by a Sri Lankan.’ They give me great strength to continue my research. I respectfully appreciate that sentiment. However, I must also stress that I am not deserving of such recognition at this stage.”
Professor Gomika Udugamasooriya also addressed this matter during a live ‘Doramadalawa’ program on the ITN channel. His explanation can be viewed in the YouTube video linked below.
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Conclusion
Our investigation shows that Professor Gomika Udugamasooriya has not discovered a medicine to cure cancer. What he is currently working on are compounds (drug candidates) that can target cancer cells and may become medicines in the future. However, he has clearly stated that there is a significant difference between an actual drug and a drug candidate, and not all drug candidates go on to become approved medicines. He also noted that developing a proper treatment for cancer could still take considerable time.
Therefore, we conclude that social media posts claiming that a Sri Lankan has discovered a cure for cancer, suggesting that cancer is now “over” are misleading.
Title: Misleading Posts Falsely Claim Dr. Gomika has Found a Complete Cure for Cancer!
Fact Check By: Fact Crescendo Team
Result: Misleading
