Former Indian cricketer and politician Navjot Singh Sidhu recently shared that his wife, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, is now cancer-free after a year-long battle with the disease. In a video, posted on X (erstwhile Twitter) Sidhu addressed the media and said he is relieved that his wife is now “clinically cancer-free.”
In the video, Sidhu revealed detailed that about his wife’s treatment which she received in government hospitals and claimed that she followed ayurvedic diet and how cancer can be beaten with simple lifestyle changes.
Without citing evidence, the former cricketer claimed that lack of sugar and carbohydrates can kill cancer cells as he emphasised on the importance of fasting. Following the press conference, several leading doctors came forward criticised him for his statements.
After his video became viral, 262 oncologists of the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, have shared an open letter urging the public not to delay treatment by opting for “unproven remedies”.
The doctors’ letter was shared on social media by CS Pramesh, a thoracic surgeon and director at the hospital. In their letter, the oncologists said there is no “high quality evidence” to support the claim that consuming raw turmeric or neem leaves could cure cancer.
“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,” the doctors wrote.
“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 letter said.
Meanwhile, Dr Cyriac Abby Phillips, popularly known as ‘The Liver Doc’ also criticised Sidhu and asked him to “stop sharing such nonsensical diets to mislead people from taking realistic healthcare.”
“there is absolutely NO EVIDENCE that any specific diet or herb or Ayurvedic balderdash can prevent, control or cure cancer…You should be ashamed of not mentioning the real reason for your wife going into remission from a terrible cancer. Dr. Rupinder Batra (Former Tata Memorial Oncologist) at Waryam Singh Hospital, Yamunanagar was a key person who treated your wife with the best that medical science can offer for that stage of disease….but you and all the other health-illiterates and the YouTube videos you watched made you do all those nonsense diet and neem leaves and turmeric and what not on the side, and without thinking critically, you decided that it was what helped your wife,” Dr. Phillips posted while sharing Sidhu’s video.
He also said that “Embrace the value of science in promoting healthcare and improving lives of cancer patients instead of appealing to tradition, culture and nationalism. And stop using your wife’s strong journey in fighting cancer to shamelessly promote Ayurveda and diet.”
“Studies have shown that complementary and alternative medicines and practices KILL CANCER PATIENTS MORE than it can delusionally save. Educate yourself,” he added.
While citing a study, Dr. Phillips also said that cancer patients who opt for alternative treatment at greater risk of death. He also shared another study that stated that alternative’ cancer treatments linked with 250 percent higher risk of death.
Disappointed with Sidhu, an orthopedic surgeon, Dr.Tushar Mehra, called out Navjot Singh Sidhu on X (formerly twitter) saying that he failed to show gratitude to Dr. Rupinder Batra from Haryana’s Yamunanagar who helped him and his family during her treatment and also how chemo made a huge difference in her recovery.
“Pahji, you came to @KapilSharmaK9 show & spoke about madam’s cancer journey and now this tweet which mentions all about diet & ayurveda etc. Not even once you mentioned Dr @RupinderBatra from Yamunanagar in the show who actually helped your whole family. I am not against any ayurveda or diet plan that you said has worked for your wife but I am appaled at your indifference to the real hero. At least do mention the chemo and the only magical role that it played in Madam Sidhu,” Dr. Mehta said.
Dr. Mehra also shared a tweet Sidhu had previously shared that shows his wife receiving the chemotherapy in a room while the doctor and Sidhu were seen consoling her. Several netizens also commented how they expected Sidhu to at least mention the doctor who helped them.
In the video, Sidhu also claimed how his wife followed traditional methods and beat cancer when all the top oncologists had given up on her chances of survival. He shard that even when the doctors said she had 3 percent chances of survival, she made it through by following a strict diet.
Elaborating on his wife Navjot Kaur’s diet as she battled cancer, Sidhu said that she consumed lemon water, raw turmeric and apple cider vinegar. After half an hour, she consumed 10-12 neem leaves and tulsi. Sour fruits and juices made from pumpkin, pomegranate, carrot, amla, beetroot, and walnuts were also part of her diet.
“She was only given water with a pH level of 7,” Navjot Singh Sidhu said, calling it the most important part of her diet.