Alternative therapies face further criticism

Cricketer Yuvraj Singh’s acceptance that his decision to try alternative therapy delayed his cancer treatment has sparked a fresh debate over the efficacy of alternative medicine in cancer.

The use of alternative therapies like reiki, yoga and mind healing techniques, besides traditional medicine such as ayurveda, homeopathy and Unani medicine, for cancer treatment has always been a topic of debate.

Most modern medicine practitioners argue that the interference of alternative therapies, like in Yuvraj’s case, leads to delay in treatment leading to complications later.

Oncosurgeon, Dr Gajanan Kanitkar, rubbished the idea of alternative therapies saying that none of them have any scientific proof.

Radiotherapy, surgery and chemotherapy are the three main proven modalities of cancer treatment, said Dr Bhooshan Zade.
Even as a majority of modern medicine doctors argues that alternative therapies do not work in cancer cases, a few cancer surgeons say that a holistic approach of combining both forms of therapy is better than trying just one approach.

“Cancer is a multifactorial disease, so there is no harm in multifaceted approach to the treatment,” said Dr CB Kopikker, cancer surgeon at Jehangir Hospital and medical director of Prashanti Cancer Care Mission.

However, Dr Kopikker added that in certain cases like stage I cancer, where lump is localised to a particular area, allopathic medicine or surgery is the best option.

Seconding the opinion, radiation oncologist, Dr Arvind Kulkarni, said that he also advises alternative therapy in order to improve quality of life.