Months after his wife underwent surgeries as part of her breast cancer treatment, Navjot Singh Sidhu shared the encouraging news through a video conference that she is now cancer-free. This announcement was met with great relief and warmth, as it reassured many regarding the health of Navjot Kaur Sidhu, a former member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly and a doctor by profession.
However, what did not go well was when Sidhu credited intermittent fasting, herbal drinks, use of herbs like neem and turmeric to his wife’s recovery.
Sidhu’s video, shared on his personal account, has faced criticism from several health experts. They have dismissed certain claims made in the video as unscientific and lacking in medical credibility.
Comments from Navjot Singh Sidhu stress the need for transparency
“Myths about cancer lead to misconceptions pertaining to treatment and prevention. Comments from Navjot Singh Sidhu stress the need for transparency. Cancer is not always a death sentence. Advanced stages can be more manageable, though, thanks to breakthroughs in early detection, treatments, and individualized treatment plans. This is shown in his wife’s recovery from stage 4 cancer, which required adequate medical treatment, such as chemotherapy and a healthy diet. Diet is not a cure, even though it strengthens immunity and overall health. There is no scientific evidence that backs claims of diets having the potential to completely eliminate cancer. A healthy, personalized diet can promote quality of life and response of the body to treatments instead,” Dr. Vaishali Zamre, Surgical Oncology, Breast Oncology, Andromeda Cancer Hospital Sonipat told TOI Lifestyle.
“Cancer is not one disease, treated by a single magic formula”
“Cancer is not one disease, treated by a single magic formula. The treatment strategy is based on the subtype of cancer, specific genetic changes in the particular cancer cells, organ of origin, extent of spread of disease at the time of diagnosis and host of other tumor and patient factors. The treatment plan is generally made by a group of experts from multiple disciplines of medicine who deliberate and tailor a plan for each situation,” Dr. Harit Chaturvedi, Chairman – Max Institute of Cancer Care told TOI Lifestyle.
“The practitioners of modern medicine are part of a large scientific community that includes scientists from several streams of science. The continued research is captured in scientific journals and debated on several platforms. The updation of treatment recommendations is almost an annual affair. The optimum treatment plan requires a focused, dedicated team to debate each case,” he continues and adds, “Navjot Kaur Sidhu has also been treated by a team of oncologists, by using the standard chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, etc. The good outcome is a testament to the advances in modern medicine.”
“It’s unfortunate that the scare of cancer has led to several myths, and Navjot Singh Sidhu is also adding to this list by presenting his one case and a hundred day experience in a press conference and not in a scientific forum for scientific scrutiny of his assumptions. We appeal to the people not to get misguided by such stories that lack scientific and data scrutiny. Such anecdotes are generally not shared with honesty for any good but are shared to create sensationalism.”
“The patients and families going through the cancer treatment are generally more vulnerable and cling to anything that gives more hope. Such half-baked stories with small short-term experiences presented as scientific evidence are doing a lot of harm to our society. This is a serious illness, and we all need to act with caution with evidence and in a deliberate manner,” Dr Chaturvedi said.
“We urge the public to not delay their treatment by following unproven remedies”
A total of 262 oncologists of the Tata Memorial Hospital have signed a statement which criticizes the claims of Sidhu. “A video of a former cricketer describing his wife’s treatment for her breast cancer has been circulating widely on social media. Parts of the video imply that “starving the cancer by not eating dairy products and sugar”, consuming haldi (turmeric) and neem helped cure her “incurable” cancer. 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. 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, and proven treatments for cancer include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy,” the statement issued in public interest reads.
“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,” CS Pramesh, Director, Tata Memorial Hospital has posted on X.
Ayurvedic treatments should never be used in place of conventional cancer treatments
According to Astha Jain Wellness Expert Co-founder of AYUVYA, Ayurveda is a traditional holistic healing system, which is found to be complementary in relation to care for cancer. It does not claim to treat cancer, but it helps to strengthen natural defenses, cleanses the body, and brings it back to balance, as it can help prevent illness or support the management of cancer.
Additionally, a central theme of Ayurveda is individual constitution (dosha) along with bespoke lifestyle and dietary advice for maximized health and resilience. These herbs like turmeric, ashwagandha, and neem possess a high level of antioxidants, anti-inflammation, and immune augmentation that can fortify the body to counteract stress and toxins in the body. Other practices, such as yoga, meditation, and panchakarma detoxification, support mental clarity, reduce stress, and nurture healing.
More importantly, Ayurvedic treatments should never be used in place of conventional cancer treatments. Instead, they are a complement to help patients improve their quality of life. Make sure to consult healthcare professionals so that treatments will be in a holistic approach together with traditional and modern practices for better care.
“No man would risk a 3-5% success rate & wait for his wife to die”
Dr. Ranjeet Sharma, MD (Ayurveda Medicine), DY (Clinical Yoga), CCYP, BAMS, IMS, B.H.U. has posted on X in response to Tata Memorial Hospital’s statement. Backing his support to Sidhu’s claim on his wife’s anti-cancer diet, he wrote, “Despite all kinds of advanced allopathic treatment, doctors told Sidhu that his wife’s chances of survival were only 3-5%. Like any common man, disappointed #NavjotSinghSidhu started looking for ways to keep his wife alive through other system of Medicines (including #Ayurveda) No man would risk a 3-5% success rate & wait for his wife to die.”
In a long post on X, Dr Sharma explains: Sidhu asked the doctors if he could start a “special type of diet” for his wife, but the doctors refused, “despite knowing that they have nothing more to offer now”. (The kind of diet that Sidhu talked about is described in Ayurveda only & we use it differently in every patient according to body type / #Prakriti & disease type / #Vikriti).
Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine, offers complementary treatments for cancer, focusing on balancing the body’s energies and improving overall well-being. While Ayurvedic herbs and therapies like turmeric, ashwagandha, and ginseng are believed to support immune function and reduce symptoms, there is limited scientific evidence to support their effectiveness in directly curing cancer. Ayurvedic treatments can help manage side effects of conventional cancer therapies and improve quality of life. However, it is crucial to consult with a qualified oncologist and consider Ayurveda as an adjunct to, rather than a replacement for, standard cancer treatment.