This claim is false. There is no such thing as “turbo cancer.” After Kate Middleton revealed her cancer diagnosis, false social media posts re-emerged claiming that the COVID vaccines caused fast-developing, aggressive cancers. Because people could not get screened for cancer during COVID’s shutdown of many healthcare services, some cancers might have been detected later than usual. But this is due to the shutdown of screening services, not the vaccine.

This false information claim originated in 2022 on a podcast, and was shared widely on social media. It resurfaced several times over the past two years, including in a March 2024 Instagram post.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the ability to diagnose cancers early when they are most treatable. During the pandemic, cancer screenings and visits with health care providers were delayed compared to pre-pandemic levels due to the shutdown of healthcare services. As a result, if cancer was found, patients started treatment later.

When cancer is found at a later stage, they can be more “aggressive” or spread more quickly. But there is no scientific evidence that this is caused by having received the COVID vaccine.

Although overall cancer deaths in the U.S. are decreasing, diagnoses among individuals aged 15-39 are rising, especially for colon and rectal cancer. While the exact reasons remain unclear, potential factors include diet changes, lifestyle, gut bacteria and other factors.