Television presenter Noel Edmonds sparked fury today when he told a cancer patient his disease could have been caused by his 'negative attitude'

Television presenter Noel Edmonds sparked fury today when he told a cancer patient his disease could have been caused by his 'negative attitude'.

The Deal Or No Deal host was promoting a £2,000 yoga mat with a USB port on Twitter, claiming the gadget 'slows ageing, reduces pain, lifts depression and stress and tackles cancer. Yep tackles cancer!'

When one Twitter user, kidney cancer patient Vaun Earl, described the EMPpad as 'quackery', Edmonds, 67, responded by asking if he had tried the machine, which claims to readjust the electro-magnetism in the body.

The former Noel's House Party host then told his critic: 'Scientific fact-disease is caused by negative energy. Is it possible your ill health is caused by your negative attitude? #explore.'

The tweet prompted a flurry of anger and ridicule aimed towards Edmonds, with Vaun, whose Twitter bio says he is ill with kidney cancer, lymph node metastases and psoriatic arthritis, responding: 'Wow! How do you know I have a negative attitude. You have no idea who I am. #patronising #cancer.'

He added: 'Amazing. I'm the most positive person I know despite my disabilities and long term ill health. Weird.'

Vaun's full name appears to be Vaun Earl Norman, and he also runs a blog titled My Adventures in Cancerland.

Later he wrote: 'My biggest worry is that some, desperate,very ill person will take on board what Noel Edmonds says and doesn't go to see a qualified doctor.'

Other Twitter users spotted the interaction, with many stunned to see that Edmonds had appeared to blame 'negative energy' for Vaun's disease.

Comedian Al Murray said it was a 'horrible thing' for Edmonds to say, mocking the presenter by posting a photograph of a box from Deal Or No Deal and writing: 'A simple box that slows ageing, reduces pain, lifts depression and stress and tackles cancer . Yep tackles cancer!'

Fellow Twitter users also attacked Edmonds over his tweets, with many of them posting pictures of alternatives to the device.

Edmonds suggested to a cancer patient that his poor health could have been caused by his 'negative attitude'

The Deal Or No Deal host was promoting a £2,000 yoga mat with a USB port on Twitter, claiming the gadget 'slows ageing, reduces pain, lifts depression and stress and tackles cancer'

One Twitter user, kidney cancer patient Vaun Earl, described the EMPpad as 'quackery'

One user posted an image of a bottle of magic beans in response to the post, another asked 'Can it stream Sky Sports as well?', and one more labelled it the 'The Edmonds Beard Dryer 2000.'

Another told the TV personality: 'The only "simple box" here is your brainmate.'

And one more posted an image of Edmonds with a picture of Mr Blobby, captioning it: 'And if you don't believe Noel, here he is with the scientist behind this miracle.'

Many who were upset by the his claims about the machine questioned whether the original post violated the 1939 Cancer Act, which bans the advertisement of any cancer cure, proven or not, to the public.

This could explain why Edmonds used the phrase 'tackle cancer', rather than suggesting it was a cure.

He had also written: 'Just looked at latest stats showing very soon 50% of us will get cancer. @EMP_Pad is one way of reducing your risk #selfhealth'

Advertising watchdogs are now looking into the matter, and a spokesman for the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) described the claims made against Edmonds as 'severe'.

She added: 'We're looking into it. It's a matter of urgency.'

But she added that because his claims were made on social media, rather than TV or in print, the case was more complex.

Edmonds often tweets about the EMPpad, recommending it to his followers, and has previously credited using it for eight minutes a day with helping to eliminate pain, reducing stress and making him appear younger than his years.

Edmonds, 67, responded by asking if he had tried the machine, which claims to readjust the electro-magnetism in the body

The TV presenter, who described the device as a 'miracle pad' also claimed on Twitter that since he has started using the EMPpad he has been forced to cut his hair once a week.

Last year Edmonds declared that 'electro smog', caused by WiFi, phone signals and electricity was endangering humanity and is a bigger world problem than climate change or Aids.

He has also said he believes in angels, and has credited his success to 'cosmic ordering', or positive thinking.

The gadget, which plugs into a tablet computer, was created by osteopaths Samuel Maddock and Steven Harper using Nasa-based research.

The mat is attached to a tablet and when switched on emits Pulsed Electro Magnetic Fields (PEMFs). Over time these are said to lead to a number of benefits including improved joint and muscle pain and better sleep.

According to the website, the technology achieves this through a mat which users must lie on for two sessions of eight minutes every day.

The pad apparently emits a 'low frequency pulsed electrometric field' that 'mimics the earth's magnetic field in frequencies and intensities to optimize cell function.'

Vaun responded by saying he had no plans to use the machine, and suggested Edmonds 'stick to what he's good at. Presenting quiz shows and beard trimming'

Vaun was stunned when Edmonds suggested his illness could have been caused by 'negative attitude'

The makers claim it can help people 'transform their health', but there are no claims regarding cancer on its website .

EMPpad Limited said it does not pay Edmonds to advertise the product.

However, company director, Maria Robertson, has previously worked as an assistant to Edmonds.

In the acknowledgements section of his book Positively Happy, he wrote: 'To Maria Robertson - heartfelt thanks and enduring gratitude for your support, commitment and love beyond the call of duty.'

In a statement, fellow director Stephen Maddock said: 'The EMPpad Omnium1 and EMPpad iMRS use very low intensity and frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) which target the cells within the body and help to improve the way they function.

Edmonds had also written: 'Just looked at latest stats showing very soon 50% of us will get cancer. @EMP_Pad is one way of reducing your risk #selfhealth'

'Research has demonstrated that this can lead to widespread health benefits, including supporting an effective immune response and a healthy overall body. Although research using very low frequency and intensity PEMF to help address cancer has produced some promising early results, it is currently in the very early stages and EMPpad does not make the claim that PEMF therapy can prevent cancer.'

In a statement on their website, the company distanced themselves from Edmonds, writing: 'The opinions of Mr Noel Edmonds are his alone and do not reflect in any way with the opinions of us at EMPpad. We had no discussion, input or prior knowledge of the content of Mr Edmonds’s statement and we do not agree with it in any way, shape or form.'

EMPpad Limited posted this statement on its website, distancing the firm from Edmonds's comment

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Edmonds for comment.

Top oncologist Professor Karol Sikora told MailOnline that there was no evidence to suggest that a gadget such as the EMPpad could help to treat the disease.

'There's no evidence that it would have any effect on cancer whatsoever,' he said.

'It may make people feel better, lots of things can make people feel better, but there's no evidence it can destroy cancer cells. The makers aren't making any claims about this.'

Professor Sikora added: 'There's no relevance of negative energy to whether you get cancer, or how your cancer develops. You can't disprove it of course but there's no data to prove it.'

Other Twitter users spotted the interaction, with many stunned to see that Edmonds had appeared to blame 'negative energy' for Vaun's disease. Comedian Al Murray said it was a 'horrible thing' for Edmonds to say

Murray mocked the presenter by posting a photograph of a box from Deal Or No Deal and writing: 'A simple box that slows ageing, reduces pain, lifts depression and stress and tackles cancer . Yep tackles cancer!'

Professor Jane Maher, joint chief medical officer of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: 'Cancer and its treatment can be a very scary experience, making some people feel helpless and too tired to be positive, but that does not mean they can't also survive their disease.

'Some patients tell us that having a positive attitude helps them when coping but we also know that a positive attitude means different things to different people and there should be no pressure on anyone to feel or act in a certain way.

'If you are feeling anxious or depressed, you don't have to go through it alone. It's really important that you do talk to your doctor, nurse or someone close to you about your feelings.

'There's also an army of people within the cancer community, including Macmillan, who can help with emotional support. We're available to talk on the phone or online when you need us.'