As a former consultant breast surgeon who has battled breast cancer three times in the last 10 years, Dr. Liz O'Riordan knows a thing or two about treating the disease.
In that time, she has had a mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and a hormone blocker to fight the cancer, and she will have to stay on treatment for life. For O'Riordan, 50, there was no question about trusting conventional medicine, but the same can't be said for everyone, as there's been a rise in people attempting to treat cancer through alternative methods.
Indeed, Australian model Elle Macpherson, 60, made headlines last month by announcing that she'd been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and turned down chemotherapy for a holistic approach instead. Former MTV presenter Ananda Lewis, 51, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 and refused a mastectomy, announced this week that her cancer has metastasized to stage 4.
They certainly aren't the only people shunning medical treatments, as a 2023 study revealed that over 52 percent of cancer patients used complementary and alternative medicine, and 5 percent even delayed their treatment in order to try it out first.
This has been something that O'Riordan, who resides in the United Kingdom, has been trying to combat since she was diagnosed. She told Newsweek that she started seeking answers online following her diagnosis in 2014, and was "horrified by the amount of misinformation" that she found.
"While a mainstream doctor can never promise a cure, there are alternative and homeopathic practitioners who will falsely promise one, and examples like these women are the result," she said.
"I've had several patients who turned down some treatments to stop it coming back and I really struggled with it. I found it hard to understand and I got really angry with them. I thought should put some common sense out there to help people understand," she said.
O'Riordan, author of The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer, is passionate about debunking alternative therapies, explaining to Newsweek why they won't cure cancer. She doesn't just look at it from a medical point of view though, as she also knows what it's like to live through cancer.
Juice Cleanse
One so-called remedy that's often touted is the juice cleanse, as some think drinking smoothies full of nutrients will keep them in great shape and keep cancer at bay. But O'Riordan has one question for those people: Where is the proof?
She said: "There is absolutely no scientific evidence that living off juices can cure cancer, and the people who claim to have cured their cancer have usually had surgery first.
"A surgeon removed the cancer, and they've done juicing to stop it coming back. We know that if you eat a healthy diet full of fruit and vegetables, and you maintain a healthy body weight, this can reduce the risk of cancer returning."
Drinking juice and smoothies isn't necessarily a bad thing, but they alone do not constitute a balanced diet. O'Riordan explains that they don't have any fiber or protein, which will negatively impact a person's gut health and muscle mass.
"You're not getting everything you need to stay healthy, and there's no evidence that it can cure cancer.
Vegan Diet
To some, being vegan might seem like the pinnacle of health and the perfect way to combat toxins. Again, O'Riordan says there is no evidence behind the suggestion that it's enough to treat cancer.
"You cannot cure cancer by diet alone," she continued. "Going vegan may be a healthy way to live, but you need to make sure you're getting calcium and protein too. It will not cure cancer or decrease the risk of it coming back—it's purely a lifestyle choice."
Taking Supplements
While supplements might help with the effects of treatment, they are not a substitute for it entirely, O'Riordan says. It can be difficult to get all the fruit and vegetables we need daily, so some doctors may prescribe vitamin supplements while a person is undergoing chemotherapy.
Anyone considering taking a supplement during treatment should speak with their doctor, as they can sometimes interfere with the cancer drugs.
The Carnivore Diet
This involves eating meat or animal products for every meal, with the aim of consuming zero carbs in a day. People following this restrictive diet only consume meat, fish, and eggs; cutting out other foods such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, and seeds.
The Cleveland Clinic explains that the carnivore diet is high in saturated fats, which can cause elevated cholesterol and put people at risk for heart disease. Processed meats (such as bacon) are high in sodium, which can lead to kidney problems and high blood pressure.
This is another one that O'Riordan certainly isn't a fan of either.
She told Newsweek: "It's just awfully unhealthy. There is no diet that can cure cancer. The only thing proven to cure cancer is surgery, and then we do chemotherapy and radiotherapy to reduce the risk of it coming back."
Cannabis Oil
Many cancer survivors might take cannabis or CBD oil to help with the side effects of treatment, but it isn't equivalent to medical interventions.
"A lot of people think that strong cannabis oil can cure cancer, but it can't. There is absolutely no proof that it can do that. A lot of people find cannabis is good for supplements, good for anxiety and brain fog cannot cure cancer," O'Riordan said.
Fasting or Low-Calorie Diets
A calorie deficit or fasting might help you lose weight, but that's about all they will do because they certainly won't cure your cancer.
"There are great ways of losing weight. If you want to try something like the 5:2 diet, but they don't cure cancer."
Why Are People Drawn to Alternative Therapies?
Everyone will have their own reason, but O'Riordan believes many are enticed by the allure of treating cancer without chemotherapy or surgery. Medical treatment is grueling, and it takes a toll, so the thought of ridding their body of cancer while staying healthy seems promising.
But it's too good to be true.
"I understand that feeling of being terrified and wanting to do anything to survive," she said. "Most cancer patients want certainty and hope, but a doctor can never tell you the answers for certain.
"You get celebrities like Elle Macpherson recounting her story and everyone assumes what she's saying is right. People believe what they hear because there is clever marketing selling these products, and patients feel like they need to believe in it to help them."
As O'Riordan explained, the idea of curing cancer through diet and lifestyle seems "so seductive" and people want to believe that the quick fix will suffice.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) highlights that cancer patients might opt for complementary and alternative medicine to help cope with the effects of treatment, to comfort themselves and ease their stress, or just to feel like they're doing something to help themselves.
Every patient should decide what treatment they want, but the NIC warns that just because something is natural doesn't mean it's safe. If someone wants to try alternative medicine, they should ask their practitioner about the risks, side effects, cost, find out whether it's covered by insurance, and importantly, ask themselves if they're comfortable with it.
"For people like Ananda Lewis, it takes a lot of courage to come forward and publicly explain what happened," O'Riordan said. "It's tragic that her cancer came back so quickly, and we have no way of knowing what would have happened if she'd had the mastectomy.
"We rarely hear about the people who weren't cured by CAM. Clinics and practitioners fill their websites with glowing testimonials, but they never show the other side. This is the reality and it's so important to get this message out there, so vulnerable cancer patients can see both sides before they make a decision that could cost their life. I want people to know it's their choice, but they must make a properly informed decision."
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