A VIRAL post on X claims that routine medical screening and diagnostic tests, including Pap smears, mammograms, and COVID-19 tests, expose people to cancer-causing substances or radiation and could therefore cause cancer.
The claim was posted by X use @RameseSanders with the text:
“So let me get this straight… Pap smear brushes used to sweep the cervix to screen for cancer are sterilised with ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen. Mammograms used to screen for breast cancer expose breast tissue to radiation and NN-EMFs. COVID tests used swabs in kits that contain sodium azide, a known toxic chemical. It almost seems like they want you to get cancer.”
As of 8 September 2026, the post has gained over 91,000 views, 5,800 likes, and more than 1,800 reposts.
Standard medical screenings including Pap smears, mammograms, and COVID-19 swab tests contain dangerous carcinogens, radiation, or toxic chemicals intended to cause cancer.
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
The FactCheckHub examined each assertion made in the post regarding medical device manufacturing and diagnostic procedures.
A Pap smear (Papanicolaou smear) is a screening test for cervical cancer that involves collecting cells from the cervix and examining them for precancerous or cancerous changes.
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