The Risks of Alternative Therapies for Battling Breast Cancer
Alternative therapies for cancer care can have dire consequences, experts say. Ananda Lewis, former MTV VJ and TV host, died last week from breast cancer at age 52. After revealing in 2020 that she had been battling breast cancer for more than two years, Lewis made the decision to forego conventional treatment in favor of holistic methods. The advertising of many alternative medicine providers often falsely claims that their treatments can effectively cure cancer or prolong life, a study from 2023 found.
Lewis initially chose to bypass traditional cancer treatment, such as a mastectomy, and focused on diet and lifestyle changes instead. However, faced with stage 4 cancer, she questioned if she made the right decision in not getting the surgery. This highlights the importance of carefully weighing the risks of alternative treatments when battling serious diseases like cancer.
Former MTV VJ and TV host Ananda Lewis became one of the expected 42,000 U.S. women to die from breast cancer in 2025. Her story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of solely relying on alternative therapies for disease management, especially when facing a life-threatening illness like breast cancer.
