KCAL teams up with MTV for Mental Health Action Day
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Yahoo
Ananda Lewis chose 'natural' cancer care over conventional treatment. Many others do too -- and it's risky
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 announced she was foregoing conventional treatment in favor of holistic methods such as juicing, herbal remedies and detox regimens. Lewis' cancer had already reached an advanced stage by the time it was detected -- delayed in part by her long-standing fear of mammograms and concerns about radiation exposure. MORE: Former MTV VJ and talk show host Ananda Lewis dies at 52 Like Lewis, some cancer patients are questioning traditional cancer care and turning to alternative therapies instead. Famously, Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc., delayed surgery after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in favor of vegan diet, cleanses and herbal remedies. Fewer than one percent of cancer patients refuse all treatment, according to a May 2022 study. However, another study found that upwards of 19% decline at least some of the recommended treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation. Foregoing traditional treatments can have dire consequences. Patients with breast or colorectal cancer who chose alternative treatments were nearly five times more likely to die, and those with non-metastatic lung cancer had more than double the risk, according to a 2017 study from Yale School of Medicine. "What's at stake here is life and death. We know that particularly early detection saves lives," Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a breast oncologist at NYU Langone Hospital, told ABC News. Comen said doctors need to explore why some patients distrust the system even though modern medicine has greatly improved cancer outcomes. Many patients who decline conventional treatments do so due to fear of side effects, distrust of the medical system or a desire for control, Comen said. They often choose natural remedies believing these are safer or better for their health. MORE: Women diagnosed with breast cancer in their 20s, 30s, 40s describe being robbed of their femininity It may be an enticing idea that the body can just heal itself, Comen conceded. The wellness industry and social media often glamorize "natural healing," pushing unproven treatments as safer than standard care, according to Comen. In the face of a scary diagnosis and growing mistrust, some patients see alternative therapies as more hopeful, she said. "I've seen patients mortgage their home, drain their entire finances for presumably magic bullets that they've seen online." Comen said. Complementary care can be helpful, but only when combined with standard treatment, Comen cautioned. Practices like acupuncture, mindfulness meditation and yoga can help reduce treatment-related side effects such as pain, fatigue and anxiety, Comen said. She added there is robust evidence that diet and exercise can improve outcomes and quality of life. A 2022 study found physical activity -- in addition to rather than in lieu of treatment -- decreases the severity of side effects of cancer treatment, reduces fatigue, has a positive impact on mental health and improves quality of life. Comen emphasized that early, evidence-based treatment is crucial to improve the odds of survival, especially for aggressive cancers. Returning to conventional care after trying alternative methods risks progression of the disease past the point where doctors can contain it, she added. "I have countless heart-breaking stories of patients not trusting a medical system, being sold a false bill of goods by someone that is not medically trained, and they often come back when they have been abandoned," she said. "They come back to me when honestly it is too late to be able to provide curative intent. Those stories haunt me." Dr. Lemuel Hackshaw, MD, is an emergency medicine chief resident at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit. Ananda Lewis chose 'natural' cancer care over conventional treatment. Many others do too -- and it's risky originally appeared on
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Can Alternative Cancer Treatments Work? Here's What Doctors Want You To Know
Ananda Lewis, the former video jockey who hosted MTV's 'Total Request Live' in the '90s, has died at the age of 52. Her sister, Lakshmi, posted a photo Wednesday of Ananda on Facebook alongside the caption, 'She's free, and in His heavenly arms.' Though no further details have been shared regarding the cause of death, Lewis revealed in an Instagram post in 2020 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The TV personality released another update last fall, letting fans know the cancer had metastasized after she opted against her physicians' recommendation to get a double mastectomy — a surgery that removes all breast tissue. 'They wanted to take both [breasts]. They wanted to do all of these big things that I was not ready for,' Lewis said in a roundtable discussion on CNN. Instead, she changed her diet, tweaked her sleep routine and made other lifestyle modifications in an effort to flush toxins out of her body. (It's been reported that later in her cancer journey, she underwent chemotherapy.) Here's why so many people with cancer — like Lewis — opt for alternative treatments (like chiropractic medicine or herbal remedies) instead of radiation, chemotherapy or surgery. And how choosing an alternative path can affect your outcomes. Lewis' decision is part of a popular trend in which more people are pursuing alternative treatments — like herbs, botanicals, vitamins and minerals, reiki and specialized diets — instead of traditional solutions like surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. One report found that 48 to 88% of people with cancer use complementary treatments (complementary treatment refers to alternative treatments that are done in conjunction with conventional treatment). In fact, complementary and alternative medicine is now estimated to be a multibillion dollar industry in the United States. Scientists suspect the recent surge in interest is due to a mix of factors. When it comes to medicine, people crave self-autonomy. People fighting cancer commonly feel like their doctors make all of the decisions, and some find that complementary and alternative therapies offer them a more hands-on role in their treatment and recovery, according to Cancer Research UK. Dr. Cary Gross, founder and director of Yale School of Medicine's Cancer Outcomes Public Policy and Effectiveness Research Center, said some people are concerned about the side effects associated with chemotherapy. And the cost can be a huge deterrent, he added, as many procedures are 'ridiculously expensive.' Some people mistrust the medical establishment and doubt their providers have their best interests in mind when recommending treatment plans. Meanwhile, growing skepticism around science, in general, has influenced the type of treatment people pursue, Gross said. Additionally, many alternative medicine providers and manufacturers have done an excellent job at marketing their products in a way that aligns with people's values and beliefs, evidence suggests. The advertising often falsely claims the treatments can effectively cure cancer or prolong your life, a study from 2023 found. The study's researchers, who scanned hundreds of online ads for alternative cancer care, stated that many of the brands 'exploited the hope of patients with terminal and poor prognoses by sharing testimonials of past patients who allegedly were cured or had their lives prolonged.' Research shows that people who do alternative medicine and skip the evidence-backed treatments face a two to four times greater risk of death. This is largely due to the fact that those who go this route also tend to refuse conventional cancer treatments. Another study found that those who opt for alternative options die sooner than those who adhere to evidence-based solutions. 'Generally speaking, these alternative medicines have very little, if any, evidence to support their effectiveness against cancer,' Gross said. But it's not the ginkgo or the massage that will kill you. 'It's foregoing the actual treatment that causes harm.' Breast cancer is very treatable if it's caught and treated early, said Dr. Karishma Kollipara, a breast surgeon with Northwell's Staten Island University Hospital. But if you decline surgery, for example, the cancer can spread — around the breast, to the lymph nodes and to other parts of the body. At that point, the treatment needed to cure the disease may be far more intensive, Kollipara said. And at that point, people may need to add chemotherapy into their regimen. And the recommended surgery will likely be more invasive. In the earlier stages, surgery can be done to remove the cancer and nearby tissue in the breast, according to Kollipara. At later stages, the surgery is more invasive — people may need a mastectomy and potentially have some lymph nodes removed. 'The morbidity and mortality of everything increases as the cancer progresses,' she said. This isn't to say there's no room for alternative medicine. In fact, research shows therapies like yoga, massage and acupuncture can improve people's quality of life when they're used alongside conventional treatments like chemotherapy. According to the National Cancer Institute, complementary therapies may help people cope with side effects such as pain, nausea and fatigue caused by conventional treatments. These treatments may also provide people with some peace of mind that they're doing all they can to treat or cure the disease, the agency added. Gross says it's important to have a discussion with your care team if you're interested in complementary medicine. They can take a look at your medical history, the treatments you're taking, and help you weigh the risks and benefits. Occasionally, herbs can interact with chemotherapy, too, so they can let you know if there are any interactions to be aware of, he added. Kollipara tells her patients that alternative therapies can sometimes be used in conjunction with traditional treatment. 'But it doesn't replace it,' she said. 'The thing that will cure the cancer is traditional treatment.' All that said, Gross said, there's no right or wrong approach when it comes to fighting cancer. 'There is nothing wrong with saying, 'I do not want chemotherapy,'' he said. His advice? Make sure you have all of the information at your fingertips. Then, make a decision that aligns with your goals, preferences and the facts. 'The patients are in the driver's seat,' he said. Ananda Lewis, MTV VJ And Talk Show Host, Dies At 52 There's A Cancer Screening People In Their 30s Should Do That Can Dramatically Lower Your Risk Of Dying New Study Finds 1 Promising Way To Keep Colon Cancer From Returning
Miami Herald
12-06-2025
- Miami Herald
MTV VJ Ananda Lewis dead at 52 following lengthy battle with breast cancer
Eight months after opening up about her breast cancer diagnosis, former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis has died at the age of 52. The news of her death comes after Lewis sat down at a CNN roundtable to talk about her initial cancer diagnosis and the decisions she made following receiving that news. Lewis' sister Lakshmi confirmed the news of her death in a June 11 Facebook post. 'She's free, and in His heavenly arms. Lord, rest her soul.' In a 2020 Instagram post, Lewis revealed she was first diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2019, admitting that she had been forgoing her regular mammograms out of a fear of radiation. Additionally, after receiving her diagnosis, Lewis also opted out of undergoing a double mastectomy, a surgery her doctors recommend she endure. Five years later, during her sit down with CNN, published on Oct. 15, Lewis revealed that her cancer had progressed to stage 4. While talking with her friend, CNN correspondent Stephanie Elam, Lewis shared she had some regret for how she handled her original diagnosis in 2019. 'I decided to keep my tumor and try to work it out of my body a different way,' Lewis explained. 'Looking back on that I go, 'Girl, maybe I should've (had the surgery).'' Lewis continued, sharing that she 'was not ready for' all of the 'big things' the doctors were encouraging her to do at the time. 'They wanted to take both (breasts),' she told CNN. Instead, Lewis said she moved forward with chemotherapy treatments and alternative methods, such as improving her mental health, getting more sleep and drinking less alcohol. At the end of every month, Lewis would monitor the cancer's grow with ultrasounds. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that she was told the cancer was spreading. In October 2023. A 'scan showed that I had this kind of up my spine, through my hip, almost everywhere but my brain,' Lewis said. 'I've never been in pain like that in my life.' 'I don't get afraid of things,' Lewis continued. 'I was just like, 'Fudge, man, I really thought I had this.' I was frustrated. I was a little angry at myself.' In an Oct. 16 interview with The New York Times, Lewis explained that she iwas no longer a candidate for surgery or chemotherapy. At the time, she was taking a drug that treats metastatic cancer. 'Those medications are working beautifully for me in combination with the other things I'm doing that help support my body,' she said at the time. 'I'm really thriving right now,' adding that some of the tumors have shrunk so much that they are 'almost undetectable.' 'I wish I could go back,' she said, according to The New York Times. 'It's important for me to admit where I went wrong with this.' As the National Breast Cancer Foundation reports, those diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer have a five-year relative survival rate of 86%. Stage 4 breast cancer, which metastasizes throughout a person's body, is considered incurable, but is treatable. The survival rate for Stage 4 breast cancer in women is 31%.
