Tata Memorial docs debunk Sidhu’s cancer cure claim
After Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu revealed that his wife defeated stage-4 cancer following a strict dietary regimen, oncologists have advised patients not to follow “unproven remedies” while asserting that there is no evidence to support the former cricketer’s remarks.
In a statement, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, has warned that cancer patients should not delay or stop their treatment by following unscientific recommendations.
In a press conference in Amritsar on November 21, Sidhu had said his wife’s diet included lemon water, raw turmeric, apple cider, neem and basil leaves, pumpkin, pomegranate, amla, beetroot and walnuts, which kept her “healthy”.
Slamming the claims in an official statement on November 23, 260 oncologists of Tata Memorial Hospital said, “A video of a former cricketer describing his wife’s treatment for her breast cancer has been circulating widely. Parts of the video imply that starving the cancer by not eating dairy products and sugar, consuming haldi (turmeric) and neem helped cure the ‘incurable’ cancer. These statements have no high-quality evidence to support them.”
The hospital urged the public not to delay their treatment by following “unproven remedies” and consult a doctor. “While research is ongoing for some of these products, there is no clinical data currently to recommend their use as anti-cancer agents. We urge the public to not delay their treatment by following unproven remedies, but rather consult a doctor, preferably a cancer specialist, if they have any symptoms of cancer. Proven treatments for cancer include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy,” the statement added.
The Tata Memorial Hospital Director, Dr CS Pramesh, said, “Please don’t get fooled by these statements regardless of who these come from. These are unscientific and baseless recommendations. She underwent surgery and chemotherapy, which were evidence-based and which made her cancer-free. Not the haldi, neem, etc”
Mumbai oncologist Dr Anmol Akhade said, “This was a much-needed statement. This should clear any misconception that cancer patients or caregivers may have after the recent video.”
Diet facilitates, Sidhu now clarifies
After oncologists questioned Navjot Singh Sidhu’s claim, he clarified on Monday that the diet plan was implemented in consultation with doctors and should be considered “facilitation in the treatment”.
