Bollywood actor and cancer-survivor Sonali Bendre recently responded to the criticism she faced after sharing a post about her recovery journey, in which she credited part of her healing to the process of autophagy.
In her clarification, she wrote, “I have never claimed to be a doctor, but I am certainly not a quack either. I am a cancer survivor, someone who has lived through the fear, pain, uncertainty, and rebuilding that the disease brings.”
She further explained, “Everything I have ever spoken has been my experience and my learning. As I've repeatedly said, no two cancers are the same and no treatment path is identical. One of the many protocols I personally explored, after thorough research and medical guidance, was autophagy. It made a difference for me then and continues to do so today, for me.”
She also added, “What truly matters is open, respectful dialogue. We don’t all have to agree, but we should avoid dismissing one another simply because we lean toward different approaches. Each person must choose what feels right, safe and empowering for them. I will always share my journey with honesty and humility, never as a prescription, but as a lived experience.”
The issue arose after Bendre’s post mentioned how her naturopath introduced her to autophagy and she continued, “In 2018, when I was diagnosed with cancer, my naturopath introduced me to a study called Autophagy. It played a huge role in my recovery. So I read, learned, experimented… and slowly built it into my routine. And I’ve continued to follow it ever since.”
However, several medical professionals responded critically. Hepatologist Cyriac Abby Philips (aka “The Liver Doc”) wrote on social media, “Dear Ms. Bendre… I expected better from you." He added that celebrity cancer survivors are an important resource for cancer patients and their families when it comes to science-based therapeutic journeys. “You are not helping here, by promoting quackery.”
Sonali Bendre was diagnosed in 2018 with stage-4 metastatic cancer and later underwent treatment in the U.S., ultimately being declared cancer-free.
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