Are sharks immune to/unable to get cancer?

Question

Is it true?

I just now remembered hearing that when I was really little...

Also, to people that answer this- do you know what you're talking about?

Answer 1

No, sharks are not immune to cancer.  They are instead very resistant to cancer.  So, relative to many other animals, tumors in sharks are very rare, and only a small fraction of those that do occur are actually malignant.  The two 'epigonal organs' which only elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) have are thought to help with the immune system.

Answer 2

I have heard the same thing as well. Watched several documentaries on it and them using sharks on cancer research because of their being immune to cancer.

Answer 3

I'm not so sure about that, but I heard something about there's something in sharks that could help cure cancer. Idk though.

Answer 4

Cancer existence is known to plaque mankind...In the animal kingdom much research has been done ...but not heard off such cases affecting the animals

I'm no scientist or expert but all the fuss about shark capability to cure cancer is causing more sharks to die for our cause.....!! Why not turtle they live more than 100 years no sign of deterioration's

Answer 5

That is a myth and shark cartilage does nothing but costs you money at the vitamin store. Sharks occasionally get cancer, as all multi-cellular creatures do.

Answer 6

No, not true. Sharks get cancer.  The comments about sharks not getting cancer was a junk science argument to sell books to idiots.

Sharks don't get the same cancers as humans.  They are not human.  They do not have bone.  They even have 2 organs that human's don't have.