The short explanation
This is a difficult and common situation. Families often want to try everything, and healers who promise full recovery can sound very convincing. However, no herbal or alternative remedy has been shown in reliable studies to cure cancer, and stopping proven treatment such as chemotherapy can allow the cancer to grow and reduce the chance of control or recovery. Some herbal products can also interfere with chemotherapy, affect the liver or kidneys, or increase side effects. The safest approach is to talk openly with your mother's oncologist. Tell them what is being suggested. Many oncologists are comfortable discussing complementary approaches, such as yoga, relaxation or diet support, that can be used alongside treatment rather than instead of it.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Your mother's wishes matter. If chemotherapy side effects are hard, the oncologist may be able to adjust treatment or offer more support.
- Claims of full recovery, secret formulas, or advice to stop all medical treatment are warning signs.
- Palliative care teams can help with symptoms and quality of life at any stage.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you what is right for your mother's situation. Her oncologist knows her cancer and treatment plan.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Is it safe for her to use any herbal products during chemo?
- What would happen if she stopped treatment now?
- Can her side effects be managed better?
- Which complementary therapies could help alongside treatment?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 if she has fever with chills during chemotherapy, difficulty breathing, or becomes confused or very drowsy.
Get help the same day
- Contact her oncology team the same day if she has stopped treatment or started a new remedy and feels unwell.
Book an appointment soon
- Talk to her oncologist within a few days about the healer's suggestion before any change is made.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Cancer — signs and symptoms NHS
- Breast cancer MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Breast cancer World Health Organization
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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