The family of Aloma Shemirani, a talented jewellery designer and mother-of-two, have shared their devastating story after she died from breast cancer following her decision to refuse conventional medical treatment in favour of conspiracy theories she discovered online.
Ms Shemirani, who had built a successful career creating pieces for celebrities and royalty, initially received a positive prognosis when diagnosed with breast cancer. However, her daughter, Leah Shemirani, revealed how her mother became increasingly drawn into alternative health communities and conspiracy theories that portrayed conventional medicine as harmful.
The Descent into Medical Misinformation
"She fell down this rabbit hole of conspiracy theories, thinking that doctors were trying to poison her," Leah explained. "She believed that chemotherapy was a way to make money for pharmaceutical companies rather than a legitimate treatment."
Despite family pleas and medical advice, Ms Shemirani refused surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Instead, she pursued alternative treatments including coffee enemas, intravenous vitamin C injections, and following the controversial Breuss diet, which involves consuming only vegetable juices for 42 days.
A Family's Heartbreaking Struggle
Leah described the family's desperate attempts to reason with her mother: "We tried everything - gentle persuasion, getting doctors to speak to her, even intervention-style conversations. But the more we pushed, the more she retreated into these conspiracy theories."
The situation became particularly distressing when Ms Shemirani developed a large, fungating tumour that eventually broke through her skin. Even at this advanced stage, she continued to believe she was "detoxifying" rather than dying from cancer.
The Final Days and a Warning to Others
In her final weeks, Ms Shemirani was admitted to a hospice where she finally acknowledged she was dying from cancer. She passed away in January 2023, leaving behind two children and a family determined to warn others about the dangers of medical misinformation.
Leah now advocates for greater awareness about how vulnerable people can be drawn into alternative health communities that promote conspiracy theories. "These groups prey on people at their most vulnerable - when they're frightened and looking for answers," she said.
The Broader Impact on Cancer Treatment
Medical professionals have expressed growing concern about the influence of conspiracy theories and misinformation on cancer treatment decisions. The NHS continues to emphasise that evidence-based treatments remain the most effective approach to managing cancer, while acknowledging the value of complementary therapies when used alongside conventional medicine.
Ms Shemirani's story serves as a tragic reminder of the very real consequences that can occur when patients are misled by unproven alternative treatments and conspiracy theories circulating online.
