Navjot Singh Sidhu's cancer-free diet plan sparks debate; experts share dangers of unproven remedies, see here
Congress leader and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu is once again making headlines as his wife, Dr. Navjot Kaur Sidhu, has been diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. On Monday, the leader shared a diet plan on his X (formerly called Twitter), claiming that the mentioned diet plan helped his wife overcome cancer in just 40 days. This led the medical fraternity to step forward and refute his claims.?
What happened??
Days before, Navjot Singh Sidhu shared the cancer-free diet plan on social media, and the former cricketer was immensely trolled. Following this, he shared a diet plan that was made in consultation with experts.?
In the post on X, Sidhu wrote, "I always believed that cancer treatment works best when complemented by a proper diet. The diet supported me during times of swelling, and the Ayurvedic regimen has been a great help."
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, engaging in physical activities, and avoiding food adulteration can help boost overall health, he added.?
As soon as these claims came in from Sidhu, top oncologists in the country stepped forward and said that cancer patients should not stop or delay their treatments and should avoid unproven remedies.
Doctors of Tata Memorial warns patients
Refuting the claims made by the public figure Navjot Singh Sidhu, the Director of Tata Memorial Hospital, Dr. C. S Pramesh, issued a statement on X saying, "Parts of the video imply that starving cancer by not eating dairy products and sugar, consuming haldi (turmeric), and neem helped cure her ¡®incurable¡¯ cancer.¡±??
The statement is signed by 262 oncologists from the Tata Memorial Hospital. They said such claims do not have any high-quality proof to support them. ¡°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,¡± the statement issued in ¡®public interest¡¯ further read.?
As per the experts, cancer is curable if it is detected early and the right treatments are used, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Can the composition of cardamom, holy basil, mint, and ginger cure cancer??
The claimed diet plan by Sidhu included the consumption of alkaline water of a high pH level (pH 7) to boost recovery. On the other hand, instead of having tea, Dr. Navjot Kaur Sidhu drank a concoction of mint, ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom. Apart from this, she also fasted for over 12 to 17 hours after dinner and had her first meal at 10 am in the morning and more.?
However, to get the facts checked, research is going on for some of these products, and currently, there is no clinical data to recommend their use as anti-cancer agents. Dr. Vivek Belathur, Senior Consultant - Medical Oncology, Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi, says, ¡°The risk with untested cancer remedies is huge when not done under medical supervision. Ineffective treatment tends to give false hope and delay diagnosis, and potentially dangerous toxic effects tend to worsen the condition. It only adds to the suffering of a patient and financial burden.¡±
Cancer treatments are strictly screened to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the patient. Patients should resort to searching for reliable sources apart from following unproven claims.?
Caution against untested cancer ¡®remedies¡¯?
Relying on unproven cancer remedies without the knowledge of an expert is like navigating through a bumpy road. It may offer false hope but ultimately increases the danger of missing critical, evidence-based treatments that could save your life. ¡°Using herbal medications to manage cancer symptoms can have ill effects on the body. The ingredients or chemicals in the herbal products can harm one¡¯s kidneys and liver, leading to other side effects such as gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain,¡± explains Dr. Atul Narayankar, consultant medical oncologist, at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road.?
Dr. Narayankar adds, ¡°One shouldn¡¯t buy unapproved products and exercise caution. It is essential to consult an oncologist who will design an appropriate line of treatment for you.¡±
How to differentiate between legitimate cancer treatments and unproven alternatives?
Legitimate cancer treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. ¡°Ones are herbal medicines, homoeopathy, certain chemicals found in fruits that claim to cure cancer, and acupuncture. These treatments are not proven to cure cancer. People should understand that these unproven options don¡¯t help them to tackle cancer,¡± points out Dr. Narayankar.?
A multidisciplinary approach is needed to treat cancer. It is better to exercise caution and not to put one¡¯s life in danger. Listen and follow the guidelines given by the doctor only instead of believing in any posts on social media that claim to cure cancer with just medicines.
Doctors have a vital role to play in educating their patients about the dangers of untested therapies. They make them understand that such treatments do not work and are fatal. ¡°Accurate information and proper guidance provided by doctors help the patient make decisions in this regard,¡± concludes Dr. Belathur.
The need of the hour is to dispel myths regarding cancer treatments and encourage people to visit the doctor instead of believing in quacks and educational and informative sessions.?
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