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Mumbai, November 24 — A viral video featuring former cricketer and politician Navjot Singh Sidhu has sparked controversy after he claimed that his wife’s breast cancer was cured through dietary changes, including avoiding dairy, sugar, and consuming turmeric and neem. Sidhu’s assertions, which suggest that cancer can be “starved” through diet alone, have been strongly refuted by leading oncologists from Tata Memorial Hospital.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Tata Memorial oncologists emphasized that diet alone is not a cure for cancer. “Diet plays a crucial role in supporting treatment and improving outcomes, but cancer cure typically requires medical interventions like surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies,” the statement read. It further clarified that while dietary changes and nutraceuticals might enhance treatment effectiveness, claims of curing cancer solely through diet lack scientific evidence.
Sidhu’s video, widely circulated online, described his wife’s daily regimen of consuming specific foods and fasting, suggesting this approach successfully treated her “incurable” cancer. According to Sidhu, her first meal of the day was at 10 a.m., and the last by 6:30 p.m., avoiding dairy and sugar entirely.
However, the hospital’s experts were quick to caution against such claims. “These statements have no high-quality evidence to support them. Research on certain natural products is ongoing, but there is currently no clinical data to recommend their use as standalone anti-cancer agents,” Tata Memorial’s doctors stated.
At least 262 oncologists, past and present from the hospital, signed the statement. They urged the public to consult qualified cancer specialists for symptoms of the disease and warned against delaying evidence-based treatments. “Cancer is curable if detected early. Proven treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy,” the statement added.
The hospital also encouraged spreading accurate information to combat misinformation. “Make this go viral. We have to keep fighting misinformation,” the hospital appealed.
Experts worldwide consistently stress the importance of integrating a balanced diet as a complementary measure rather than a replacement for standard cancer treatments. As cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality globally, reliance on unproven remedies can lead to delayed diagnosis and poorer outcomes.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of unverified health claims, particularly in an era where misinformation can spread rapidly across social media platforms.
