Ananda Lewis was once a vibrant face on MTV, full of energy and charm.
But behind the scenes, she had been quietly battling breast cancer for six years.
When she passed away at 52 earlier this week, it wasn’t just another heartbreaking loss—it was a tragic reminder of how the Covid-19 pandemic changed the way people accessed health care.
And in her case, it may have changed everything.
The Surgery That Never Happened
Back in 2020, when hospitals across California were reserving beds and resources exclusively for Covid patients, Ananda faced a heartbreaking hurdle.
She had been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2019 and eventually decided to undergo a mastectomy.
But by the time she was ready to act, the surgery was classified as “non-essential”—meaning she couldn’t get it.
During those early pandemic months, anything labeled “elective” was postponed indefinitely.
That included cancer surgeries that many, including the American Cancer Society, say are vital for preventing the spread of aggressive cancers like Ananda’s.
Turning to Alternative Treatments
With surgery off the table, Ananda chose another path. She turned to holistic treatments—things like high-dose vitamins and oxygen therapy—based on her own research.
She traveled to Arizona for therapies like acupuncture, cryoablation, and blood filtration procedures.
These treatments are not supported by solid evidence for curing cancer, but in the midst of fear and limited options, they seemed worth a shot.
She later admitted she regretted not pursuing conventional treatment, like surgery, chemo, or radiation, saying she believed she would’ve had a better chance if she had gone that route.
A Broader Trend Fueled by Fear and Mistrust
Ananda’s story isn’t unique. Over the past decade—and especially during and after the pandemic—more cancer patients have turned to alternative remedies instead of, or alongside, traditional medicine.
Experts are worried. They’ve seen a steady rise in patients skipping chemo or surgery, opting instead for herbal treatments, dietary changes, or unconventional therapies that aren’t backed by clinical trials.
In fact, a 2023 study found that 70% of cancer patients use some form of alternative medicine, and about one-third rely on it entirely.
Even more concerning? Around 27% of those patients don’t even tell their doctors about it.
Covid Made an Already Tricky Situation Worse
During the first year of the pandemic, disruptions in cancer care became the norm.
Appointments, surgeries, imaging scans—all delayed or canceled.
According to one national survey, nearly half of breast cancer patients faced some form of treatment delay.
Another study showed surgeries for cancer dropped by 17%, chemo by 15%, and radiation therapy by 18% during the height of Covid restrictions.
Add to that the growing fear of traditional treatments—due to their well-known side effects—and it’s not hard to see why people were looking for alternatives.
The Emotional Pull of ‘Gentler’ Remedies
Doctors say one major reason patients turn away from conventional medicine is the brutal nature of chemo and radiation—nausea, fatigue, hair loss, fertility issues, and nerve damage.
Understandably, people are scared. And when someone offers a “natural” option that claims to heal without pain, it can feel like a lifeline.
“There’s an emotional appeal to these alternatives,” says Dr. Daniel Landau, an oncologist with The Mesothelioma Center.
“But when patients skip traditional treatment entirely, mortality rates climb significantly.”
In fact, a Yale study in 2018 showed that patients who chose only alternative treatments were 2.5 times more likely to die within five years than those who received standard care.
A Celebrity-Driven Belief in Alternative Cures
Social media and celebrity endorsements haven’t helped.
From influencers to actors, some public figures have fueled the trend of rejecting medical treatment.
Just this year, Mel Gibson claimed on a podcast that three of his friends were “cured” of stage four cancer using drugs like ivermectin and fenbendazole—medications typically used for parasites.
This kind of messaging spreads fast online and often resonates with people desperate for hope.
A Growing Mistrust in Medicine
Part of the problem, experts say, is that the pandemic left many people skeptical of the healthcare system. Between vaccine rollouts, federal mandates, and a sense of public confusion, trust in doctors and hospitals plummeted.
A recent 2024 study in JAMA Network Open found that public trust in medical professionals in the U.S. dropped from 71% in early 2020 to just 40% by 2024.
That kind of shift makes patients more likely to turn to what they feel they can control—their own research and alternative care.
Not All Alternative Therapies Are Bad—But They’re Not a Cure
It’s important to note: some holistic methods, like acupuncture or using cannabis for pain, can complement traditional cancer care when used responsibly.
Many patients find relief from side effects through these therapies.
But the concern is when these treatments replace standard care entirely—or when patients don’t tell their doctors.
Dr. Tiffany Troso-Sandoval, a New York-based oncologist, warns that certain supplements, like high doses of vitamins A, C, and E, can interfere with chemotherapy or even protect cancer cells from being destroyed.
Even omega-3 supplements, often taken for general wellness, can raise the risk of bleeding during cancer surgery.
The Need for Honest Conversations and Better Access
Both Dr. Troso-Sandoval and Dr. Landau agree: patients need to feel safe talking openly with their doctors about what they’re using and why.
The real danger is secrecy—when patients self-medicate, delay treatment, or combine therapies that might do more harm than good.
There’s no standardized oversight for alternative therapies, which means patients are often navigating this world alone, based on what they’ve read online or heard from others.
Ananda Lewis’s Legacy and a Sobering Lesson
Ananda’s passing is more than a personal tragedy—it’s part of a bigger issue that continues to affect thousands of cancer patients.
Whether it’s because of system failures during Covid, fear of side effects, or deep-rooted mistrust in the medical establishment, more people are rolling the dice with unproven remedies.
And while it’s true that everyone deserves autonomy over their health, stories like Ananda’s are a stark reminder that sometimes, turning away from science-backed treatments can have heartbreaking consequences.