Sonali Bendre on battling stage 4 cancer: Early detection could have made difference

Sonali Bendre has opened up about one of the biggest lessons from her cancer journey, saying her illness may not have reached stage 4 had it been detected earlier. The actor, who was diagnosed with metastatic cancer in 2018, reflected on how silence around the disease delayed important conversations about testing and awareness.

During a recent interaction with Forbes India, Sonali spoke about the emotional strength she found in her family and close friends while undergoing treatment in New York, which included chemotherapy and surgery.

She said that her strong support system became her biggest source of strength during the battle. Sonali added that while many people are open about their journeys, her experience drew wider attention because she is a public figure. She also realised after sharing her diagnosis that cancer was still not openly discussed.

Reflecting on the stigma around the illness, she shared how people often avoided even saying the word cancer.

"It was a taboo subject, and I did not realise it. They were mentioning this as the C disease. They wouldn't even name it. What I realised was, for me, I needn't have reached the fourth stage. Had I tested and detected it early, I needn't have gone through the hardship that I went through," the actor said.

The 51-year-old actor emphasised that timely diagnosis can make a huge difference and said cancer should not be viewed as hopeless if caught at an early stage. She also questioned why conversations around preventive health checks remain limited.

Speaking about using her experience for a larger purpose, Sonali said she is proud that her journey helped people speak more openly about the disease.

"I have realised that when I am in the public eye-maybe that's what I can give back. I can bring about a conversation around it. That, more than anything else in my life – if you are looking good, it is your genes; I have got my chances. I am grateful for the opportunities. But one thing I am grateful for is the conversation around cancer in these 7 years has drastically changed, and that has been because of my illness," she said.

"The way people are talking about it now. The way they are getting tested-it was not the case before. That I am happy about; I feel like it is the only thing I have done in my life," she added.

On the work front, Sonali was last seen in The Broken News and currently hosts The Happy Pawdcast, which focuses on pet parenting and animal welfare.