Actor and cancer survivor Sonali Bendre has issued a clarification after several clinicians criticised her recent social media post that credited naturopathy and the concept of autophagy as part of her recovery from metastatic cancer. The discussion began after Bendre shared an Instagram post describing her personal experience with autophagy and how she incorporated it into her routine after her diagnosis in 2018.
Autophagy is the body’s natural process of cleaning and recycling damaged cells, a function essential for normal cellular health.
Studies show that cancer patients who choose alternative medicine instead of evidence-based oncology treatments have higher mortality rates.¹
In her Instagram post, Bendre said her naturopath introduced her to the concept of autophagy during her cancer treatment. She wrote that the process played a significant role in her recovery and that she continued to follow related practices. She stated that she explored the approach through reading, learning and experimentation alongside her medical care.
Autophagy is a natural cellular process in which cells break down and recycle their components when nutrients are scarce. It supports normal cellular health, but scientists note that its role in cancer is complex and still under study.
Hepatologist Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, known on X as TheLiverDoc, criticised the post and advised caution regarding claims about naturopathy and cancer. He wrote that celebrity cancer survivors influence patient perceptions and therefore should prioritise science based, evidence based information.
In a detailed post, he stated that Bendre underwent chemotherapy, radiation and surgery in New York following her diagnosis of stage 4 metastatic endometrial cancer in 2018, and achieved remission in 2019. He emphasised that these evidence based treatments were responsible for her recovery.
Dr. Philips described naturopathy as an unproven approach and referred to warnings issued by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against illegally marketed cancer treatments. He cited an Australian regulatory case in which a naturopath was banned from offering cancer treatment advice, and referenced research papers that evaluate unproven or disproven therapies. He also explained that cancer cells can use autophagy as a survival mechanism, which complicates claims that manipulating autophagy can treat cancer.
Bendre has previously publicly acknowledged that her cancer treatment was based on scientific medicine. In a series of posts on X in August 2022, she expressed gratitude for the doctors and medical care she received at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. She wrote that the importance of quality medical treatment had become clear to the world in recent years and stated that she was grateful for the care that contributed to her recovery.
In the same thread, she shared that she was honoured to inaugurate a Memorial Sloan Kettering branch in Chennai and noted that the institution’s work had helped many patients worldwide in diagnosing, treating and curing cancer.
Following widespread discussion, Bendre responded on social media. She wrote that she never claimed to be a doctor and stated that she did not consider herself a quack. She described her comments as a personal account of her experience as a cancer survivor. Bendre said each patient’s treatment path is different and that she shared her journey with honesty and humility rather than as a prescription for others. She added that autophagy made a difference for her personally but acknowledged that people may choose different approaches that feel safe for them.
After Bendre’s statement, Dr. Philips clarified that he did not label her a quack. He wrote that his criticism was directed at naturopaths who offer unproven claims. He said that cancer survivors can be misled by pseudoscientific practices and emphasised the need for critical thinking and evidence based decision making. He stated that his intention was not to target Bendre but to highlight risks associated with unverified therapies.
Autophagy is not a treatment for cancer. It is a physiological process that occurs in all cells. While fasting and nutritional interventions are sometimes promoted in alternative medicine circles as methods to enhance autophagy, clinical evidence does not support these approaches as cancer therapies. Researchers note that cancer cells can activate autophagy to survive stressors such as chemotherapy and low oxygen levels, which makes its role dependent on the type and stage of cancer.
The conversation has continued across social media platforms, with clinicians urging people to rely on evidence based medical care and with some users supporting Bendre’s right to share her personal journey. Bendre has stated that she encourages respectful dialogue and does not promote her experience as a universal treatment path.
Experts advise that while personal healing stories can be meaningful, cancer treatment decisions should rely on verified medical evidence.
References:
Johnson, S. B., Park, H. S., Gross, C. P., & Yu, J. B. (2018). Use of alternative medicine for cancer and its impact on survival. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 110(1), 121–124. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djx145
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