Sonali Bendre responds to criticism over her claim that autophagy is a cure for cancer
After facing severe criticism from doctors, Sonali Bendre clarified that her post on autophagy was based entirely on her personal experience as a cancer survivor and not on medical advice. She stressed that she is “no quack” and will continue to share her journey with honesty and respect for differing opinions.
Sonali Bendre has issued a clarification after facing backlash from medical professionals for her recent post on autophagy, an alternative treatment therapy which she said helped her fight cancer. The actress, who shared her personal experience on social media, was criticized by several doctors for “promoting meanness”, prompting her to issue a detailed statement, emphasizing that she was sharing her life journey and not medical advice.
On Monday evening, Sonali posted a note on her Instagram Story addressing the controversy. His statement began, “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 reconstruction caused by the disease.”
Emphasizing that her posts reflect her personal journey, she said, “Everything I have said so far is my experience and my learning. As I have said time and again, no two cancers are alike and no treatment path is the same. One of the many protocols I personally explored after extensive research and medical guidance was autophagy. It made a difference for me then and continues to do so for me today.”
Calling for constructive and respectful dialogue, she added, “What really matters is open, respectful dialogue. We don’t all have to agree, but we must avoid dismissing each other just because we lean toward a different viewpoint. 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 debate started after his original post was strongly criticized by many doctors online. Hepatologist Cyriac AB Phillips, widely known as The Liver Doc, reported that Sonali took modern medical treatments and warned that “naturopathy is a sham. Fraudulent cancer treatments offered under the guise of naturopathy are a serious issue, with numerous cases of patients being financially exploited and potentially harmed by delays in effective, evidence-based medical care. The FDA has issued a report on illegal cancer treatments. “We have issued several warning letters to inform patients about this.” His comments were supported by many in the medical community.
For those unfamiliar, Sonali Bendre was diagnosed with stage four metastatic cancer In 2018. He underwent treatment in New York and was declared cancer-free in 2021. Since then, she has been advocating for awareness, recovery and support for cancer survivors.