Tata Memorial Hospital experts caution against ‘unproven cancer remedies’

In response to Navjot Singh Sidhu‘s video conference on wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu’s

cancer treatment

and outcome, a group of oncologists from Tata Memorial Hospital have released a statement.
Pramesh CS, Director of the Tata Memorial Hospital and the Professor and Head of Thoracic Surgery at the Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai has posted on X, a statement signed by 262 oncologists (present and past, from Tata Memorial Hospital).
“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.,” Pramesh has posted on X which has Navjot Singh Sidhu’s video.
In a thread, he has posted: 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.

On Thursday, Sidhu had announced that his wife was clinically cancer free.
“Clinically cancer-free” means that, based on medical evaluations such as physical examinations, imaging tests, and laboratory results, there are no detectable signs of cancer in the body. This term is often used after treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, has successfully eliminated visible or measurable cancer.
In the video conference Sidhu also spoke about how a diet comprising herbals like turmeric, neem and intermittent fasting helped his wife get cured of the incurable disease. He said she ate her last meal at 6.30pm in the evening and ate her first meal of day at 10am.

Sidhu’s video has received mixed responses. While many X followers have requested him to share his wife’s diet details, many others, health experts mostly have cautioned against it.
Ayurvedic remedies are sometimes used as complementary treatments alongside conventional cancer therapies, but there is no scientific evidence to support that Ayurveda can cure cancer on its own. Ayurveda focuses on balancing the body’s energies (doshas) using herbal treatments, diet, and lifestyle changes. While certain Ayurvedic herbs like Ashwagandha, turmeric, and Guduchi may have anti-inflammatory or immune-boosting properties, they are not proven to eliminate cancer cells. It’s essential for cancer patients to consult with oncologists before exploring Ayurvedic options, as traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation remain the most effective in cancer care.