NEW DELHI: Sonia Gandhi's memoirs, released on Tuesday, officially acknowledge what was long whispered within political circles but never publicly confirmed - her battle with cancer, which occurred during the second term of UPA govt.They also set the record straight on where her two surgeries took place - first at European Institute of Oncology, near Milan in Italy, and later at Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam - and not at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, as was widely speculated.According to Sonia, while she had suffered from occasional bouts of asthma and allergies, she had no serious health troubles until 2010, when she was advised to undergo surgery for suspected breast cancer. She chose not to get operated on in India as she wanted to avoid a media frenzy.‘I saw Rajiv reaching out to me, smiling at me’After much discussion with her doctors, Sonia Gandhi opted to get operated on by Dr Veronesi, a celebrated surgeon who was the founder and head of the European Institute.In her book, ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’, Sonia writes, “On the…
For the first time, Sonia confirms battle with cancer in memoirs
In short
The former Congress president detailed undergoing an initial operation for suspected breast cancer in 2010 at the European Institute of Oncology near Milan. A routine checkup a year later detected a pancreatic growth, prompting a second procedure in Rotterdam to remove the tumor at an early, precancerous stage. Her children, Rahul and Priyanka, accompanied and supported her abroad through both of these major operations. She noted that apart from these surgeries, an August 2016 roadshow collapse, and minor respiratory issues, she has faced no other significant medical concerns.
Key points
- The political leader traveled to European medical centers specifically to maintain privac…: The political leader traveled to European medical centers specifically to maintain privacy and evade a domestic media frenzy.
- Gandhi underwent an operation for a fractured shoulder after collapsing from heat during…: Gandhi underwent an operation for a fractured shoulder after collapsing from heat during a 2016 Varanasi roadshow.
- Aside from seasonal allergies, asthma, and winter pollution, Gandhi confirmed having expe…: Aside from seasonal allergies, asthma, and winter pollution, Gandhi confirmed having experienced no other major medical scares.