Mumbai/Delhi: In an effort to help a loved one, families of cancer patients often turn to alternative products, adopting dietary changes with an emphasis on haldi or neem in tandem with conventional treatment. A recent video featuring former cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu has now sparked controversy, with Sidhu claiming that such home remedies helped his wife recover from breast cancer, purportedly playing down the role of scientific treatment.The sheer vitality of the video on social media has now prompted the Tata Memorial Hospital to issue an unprecedented rebuttal signed by hundreds of oncologists.
In the video, Sidhu says, “She started her day with nimbu pani along with ‘kacchi haldi’, garlic, and then neem leaves… then nuts, beetroot, carrot, and amla. After her operation, there was not a single cell of cancer (cyst) detected. These remedies do not require any money.”
Tata Memorial Hospital’s statement is signed by 262 present and past oncologists from TMH. It said, “These statements have no high-quality evidence to support them. While research is ongoing for some of these products, there is no clinical data currently to recommend their use as anti-cancer agents.” The statement further said, “We urge the public to not delay their treatment by following unproven remedies, but rather to consult a doctor, preferably a cancer specialist, if they have any symptoms of cancer. Cancer is curable if detected early.”
Only a day prior to the statement, TMH director Dr CS Pramesh took note of the viral video and said in an X (formerly known as Twitter) post, “Please don’t believe and get fooled by these statements regardless of who it comes from. These are unscientific and baseless recommendations. She got surgery and chemotherapy that were evidence-based, which is what made her cancer-free. Not the haldi, neem, etc.”
The video was also rebuked by Hepatologist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, known as ‘The Liver Doc’ on X, popular for his science-driven fact checks. He said in a post, “I know you (Sidhu) are emotional, and emotions make people’s thoughts go blind. There is no evidence that any specific diet or herb or Ayurvedic balderdash can prevent, control, or cure cancer.” He added, “Studies have shown that complementary and alternative medicines and practices kill cancer patients more than it can delusionally save.” Even the prestigious All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, Delhi, rushed to counter Sidhu’s claims. Dr Abhishek Shankar, assistant professor, radiation oncology at AIIMS Delhi, said these claims can create false hope and might discourage patients from pursuing necessary cancer treatment, potentially worsening their condition. “I urge you (Sidhu) to advise cancer patients to consult an oncologist like you did for your wife to explore the best treatment options suited to individual needs,” he said.
Dr P K Julka, vice-chairman Max oncology, said cancer treatment should follow scientific norms. “New claims, if any, need to be proved by scientific means,” he said.