Opinion: Change in diet does not cure cancer, listen to science for right treatment

Author: Dr. Adit Mathur
Politician, celebrity and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu recently shared the story of his/her wife’s recovery from stage 4 breast cancer through a very personal and emotional video. Expressing happiness in this, Sidhu attributed the recovery to the changes brought in his/her wife’s eating habits and lifestyle. he/she told that this recovery was achieved by giving up sugar and dairy products and eating turmeric and neem leaves. This video of Sidhu was shared widely on social media. In the video, he/she has pointed out how these measures helped his/her wife come out of her ‘incurable disease’.don’t be misled
The matter is interesting, but it has worried medical experts. Tata Memorial Hospital is a well-known institute in the country for cancer treatment. Regarding this matter, it issued a statement signed by 262 cancer doctors. In this, doctors have said that instead of adopting treatment whose authenticity cannot be tested, people should use only those methods which have been tested.

fear of doctors
The message of the doctors is, ‘Cancer can be cured if detected early. The tried and tested methods for this include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Through their statement, the doctors also pointed out how dangerous misleading claims can prove to be in the treatment of cancer.

These measures are wrong
However, what Sidhu said is just a manifestation of an already existing problem. The problem is that people are attracted to natural or alternative treatments for many serious diseases. But cancer is a complex and aggressive disease. It cannot be treated only by making changes in eating habits and lifestyle. Of course, making selective food and lifestyle changes can help in staying healthy or it can help in avoiding cancer, but once the disease occurs, these things cannot cure it.

listen to science
Especially when the disease has reached a serious stage. Science does not support the idea that cancer can be prevented or reversed by giving up certain foods, such as sugar or dairy products. he/she also calls it misleading.

Modern treatment is the solution
Stage 4 cancer is the advanced stage of the disease. In this, cancer has spread to many organs. In such a situation, timely and modern treatment is required. For example- surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. These measures help in preventing cancer and increasing the lifespan of the patient. At the same time, when claims are made to cure diseases with misleading remedies like turmeric, neem, many patients may get influenced by them and delay the treatment. If they do this, their chances of survival may reduce.

Consider the celebrity as a responsibility.
There is one more thing. When celebrities and well-known people like Sidhu share such things, it has an impact among the people. his/her words reach crores of people. People form opinions about them and they influence the decisions taken. This does not at all mean that Sidhu’s intentions are not good, but it is also true that it can send a wrong message among the people. I feel that it is the responsibility of those who are in public life to disseminate scientifically correct information among the people. Especially in health matters.

interest of patients
Given the dangers of misleading claims, Tata Memorial Hospital had to issue a statement on this matter. That statement has the support of 260 cancer doctors. They want that patients should not harm themselves by delaying treatment because of this claim. his/her emphasis is on early detection of the disease and proven methods of treatment that are right for the cancer patient.

progress in treatment
In recent decades, the medical world has made huge progress in the treatment of cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are important in this, but new options like immunotherapy and targeted therapy have increased the hope of recovery of patients. These methods are being tried because a lot of research has already been done on them and clinical trials have also been conducted. These were found to be the best in terms of survival and recovery of cancer patients.

no delay in treatment
Alternative treatments, such as dietary changes and supplements, can support scientific treatment, but they cannot replace it. Therefore, patients should not delay cancer treatment under any circumstances. They should adopt only scientifically correct treatment.

Awareness campaign started
Health workers should also come forward against misleading claims. Awareness campaigns can be run in such cases. Efforts should be made to provide correct information to the patients. Additionally, open debate can also help refute misinformation.

(The author is a senior physician.)