Nafisa Ali, veteran actress and politician, is battling cancer for the second time. In a recent interview, she recounted her journey to diagnosis, highlighting the importance of trusting one's instincts even when medical professionals initially miss the mark.

Ali's initial diagnosis came in 2018 when she was in Goa. She knew something was wrong because she was feeling unusually tired. After several disappointing doctor's appointments and misdiagnoses, it was Madhu Trehan who urged her to get a proper check-up. She was eventually diagnosed with stage 3 peritoneal and ovarian cancer. According to Ali, the delay in diagnosis caused the cancer to metastasize.

Before receiving her first diagnosis, Ali had a hunch that something was seriously wrong, despite doctors initially dismissing her concerns and suggesting tuberculosis. Determined to understand what was happening in her body, she insisted on a PET scan. Before the test results came in, she playfully placed a bet with her doctors, confident that it wasn't TB. When the scan confirmed her suspicions, revealing cancer, she lightheartedly collected ₹5 from each of them, a small victory amidst a challenging situation. "When the reports came in, they had no words. I had bet them it wasn't TB—I took Rs 5 from each of them," she said. Despite the seriousness of the diagnosis, she maintained a positive attitude, declaring, "It's okay, I'll beat this".

After battling stage 3 cancer, Ali was declared cancer-free in 2019. However, in recent times, the cancer has resurfaced. A PET scan revealed that she now has stage 4 cancer, which has spread to her abdomen. As surgery is not an option, she is undergoing chemotherapy. "A relapse was detected three years ago and treated, but after a routine PET scan, they told me it was stage 4. It's not operable. They said, 'Let's try chemo.' I am just praying for inner strength," Ali stated.

In a recent social media post, Ali shared an emotional message alongside news of her resuming chemotherapy. She posted a screenshot of a quote about the strength of sibling bonds, writing, “One day my children asked, 'Who will we turn to when you're gone?' I told them, 'Turn to each other. That is my greatest gift, siblings who share the same love and memories. Protect one another, and remember: your bond is stronger than anything life can bring'”.

Despite the challenges, Ali remains resilient. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and finding inner strength throughout her treatment. "Believe me I love life,” she wrote, as a caption to her post. She also spoke candidly about the realities of chemotherapy. “It's a very toxic process. I hate it. But I take it. I talk to my body and tell it to enjoy the journey—to let the cancer be attacked and depleted. It's not a joy in anyone's life,” she said.

Nafisa Ali's journey highlights the difficulties in detecting certain cancers early and the importance of patient advocacy. She hopes to empower others to trust their instincts and seek answers when they feel something is wrong with their bodies.