Can a Mushroom Really Help with Cancer?
It’s a fair question. And it’s exactly what Dr. John Campbell, a retired nurse educator known for his straightforward medical breakdowns, asked in his latest video. This time, he sat down with Tony, a man from the Isle of Wight who believes a simple mushroom helped change the course of his life.
The mushroom in question is Turkey Tail - a tough, woody fungus that grows on decaying wood across the UK. It’s been used in traditional medicine for centuries, especially in Japan and China, where extracts known as PSK and PSP have been researched for their immune-modulating effects.
But in the West the science is still catching up.
Tony’s Story
Tony was first diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2021. After having his kidney removed, he faced several rounds of chemotherapy and regular check-ups. Unfortunately, the cancer kept coming back, spreading into his bladder and forcing more operations and chemo treatments.
By late 2023, Tony was physically and emotionally exhausted. Then a friend introduced him to Turkey Tail tincture from a small mushroom farm called Isle of Wight Mushrooms. The company is run by Alex and Donna, two local growers who craft their extracts using traditional alcohol and hot-water extractions.
Tony began taking a small daily dose, then gradually increased it to 5ml after speaking with Alex. A few months later, in early 2024, he went for another scan and, for the first time since his diagnosis, was completely cancer-free.
“All I can say is thank you so much to Alex and Donna. They’ve saved my life because I know if I hadn’t met them and upped my dosage, I don’t know if I’d still be here.”
Now, nearly two years later, Tony remains healthy and full of gratitude, and credits Turkey Tail as a key part of his recovery journey.
The Power of Turkey Tail
Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) isn’t new to science. Studies have shown it contains polysaccharides that may support immune function, particularly beta-glucans and compounds like PSK (polysaccharide-K) and PSP (polysaccharopeptide).
In Japan, PSK has been used alongside chemotherapy for decades to improve survival rates in certain cancers. It’s thought to work by helping the immune system better identify and destroy abnormal cells.
Still, as Dr. Campbell points out, large-scale UK clinical trials are lacking. Mostly because you can’t patent a mushroom, which means pharmaceutical companies have little financial incentive to invest the millions needed to test them properly.
Inside the Farm
Alex, the grower behind Isle of Wight Mushrooms, produces several functional species - Turkey Tail, Reishi, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane - all grown in clean, controlled environments on beechwood and soy hull substrates.
Each mushroom goes through a long extraction process:
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First soaked in 70% alcohol for 6–8 weeks
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Then pressed, ultrasonically agitated, and re-extracted in hot water for several days
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Finally filtered and blended into potent dual-extracted tinctures
This meticulous process helps unlock the beneficial compounds that would otherwise stay trapped in the mushroom’s tough cell walls.
"... a lot of the compounds are held up in that cell wall in the mushroom… I think that’s one of the main reasons really - it’s more bioavailable for you, just to get straight up into your system.”
The Call for Research
No one in the video makes health claims. Tony’s story is personal, not prescriptive. But it raises an important point. If natural compounds like Turkey Tail show real promise, why aren’t we studying them properly?
As Dr. Campbell says:
“So we want cancer treatments that are accessible to all - low cost, safe, low side effect profile, efficacious in curing the disease. At the moment for many diseases, we simply don’t have that. And this is research that needs to be done regardless of individual and corporate profit making.”
At Mushies, we couldn’t agree more. Nature holds countless solutions, but it’s up to us to explore them with open minds, rigorous science, and a respect for both evidence and experience.
Learn more about Turkey Tail Mushroom here.
Disclaimer:
This article is for educational purposes only. Mushrooms are not a substitute for medical treatment. Always speak to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you are undergoing treatment for a serious condition.
