26-05-2025
Dog owner convinced one sweet ingredient cured her pet's cancer
A dog diagnosed with an aggressive cancer has made a recovery after her owner started spreading honey on her food. Libby Basford's golden cocker spaniel, Matilda, was diagnosed with oral melanoma and the vet booked Matilda in for surgery.
The painful lump in the back corner of her mouth was removed successfully. But in less than five months, the cancerous growth had returned and doubled in size, leading to her undergoing a second surgery.
After being removed again, small tumours appeared all over Matilda's mouth. Vets advised Libby that a third surgery would mean that a large portion of Matilda's mouth would be removed. Libby spoke to a holistic vet, who suggested she try a natural honey, which can be squeezed onto food.
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After six weeks, the tumours inside Matilda's mouth shrank and eventually disappeared. Libby said: "There is no doubt in my mind that honey is powerful stuff. Personally, I am convinced it was the honey that saved Matilda and made the melanomas in her mouth shrink and disappear completely.
'I didn't want Matilda to have chemo and declined an oral melanoma vaccine. Matilda is now walking, jumping and racing - a real testament to the power of the have had two previous dogs who succumbed to cancer, and I really wish we had known about it then.'
Matilda was nine at the time she was diagnosed in 2021. Four years later, aged 13, she is a healthy dog with no signs of cancer. Libby gives her a single maintenance dose of honey every week.
The honey is a natural product which is high in a potent iminosugar called Iminose A. Dr Robert Nash, owner of Dr Nash Glyco Health, said: 'Iminosugars have not been studied by many scientists as they are difficult to detect and synthesise, yet they can have potent and varied effects.
'They are in many foods and herbal medicines, but are rarely noticed and measured. Many modern food plant varieties and supplements have had the iminosugars removed."
Experts say honey has been linked to better health, although there is no evidence it can 'cure cancer'.
Honey contains compounds like flavonoids and phenolic acids, which can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress — both of which are linked to cancer development. Honey is known for promoting wound healing and preventing infections, which can be helpful in cancer patients with wounds or compromised immunity.
Some studies in test tubes and animals suggest that honey might inhibit the growth of certain cancer cells (like breast, colon, or prostate cancer cells), likely due to its antioxidant and pro-apoptotic (cell-killing) effects. But these are not clinical studies in humans.
Iminosugars mimic the shape and size of sugars, so they can bind to enzymes that normally process sugars, particularly glycosidases (enzymes that break down complex carbohydrates). They act as competitive inhibitors, blocking the enzyme's activity.
Some iminosugars are used to treat illnesses and viruses, and have been found to reduce blood sugar spikes.
