Sonali Bendre’s life turned upside down last year when she was diagnosed with high-grade cancer that had metastised. The actress went to New York and stayed for there for the better part of the year getting treated for the disease. Today, at an event in Delhi she spoke at length about the disease and how it impacted her mental state as well. She also revealed the toll that the surgery took on her body.

During the event, Sonali revealed that she went to a psychiatrist in New York as she could not come to terms with the fact that she has contacted the disease and felt that she must have done something wrong. She said, “I actually thought that it was me doing something wrong and that I have caused it. I went to a psychiatrist in New York. I was like, I don't understand what is happening to me. I'm not a negative person; I have a lot of positive thoughts. Am I being delusional? Do I actually have negative thoughts and I am burying it so deep in my subconscious that I don't realize it? I needed to understand what was happening to me.”

[caption id="attachment_222040" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Sonali Bendre[/caption]

RECOMMENDED READ: Definitely getting back to work, says Sonali Bendre after beating cancer

Revealing what the psychiatrist said, Sonali said, “The line that he said is the hoarding for me in my life. He said, 'Sonali, cancer is caused by genetics or virus. If thoughts could cause or cure cancer, I would be the richest man on this earth because I deal with thoughts.' It was like a weight was lifted off. I said I can deal with this. I don't have to flog myself. Because I was doing that. I kept thinking what did I do wrong. I realised that we have done nothing wrong if we have got this disease.”

Sonali inspired millions with her fight against cancer. Her inspirational words and pictures gave strength to a lot of people who are fighting the disease or are witnessing their loved ones suffer. Talking about her treatment, Sonali said that the toughest part was the surgery as she was under the impression that she would've to do robotic (minimally invasive) surgery. She said, “The doctors then told me that the cancer had spread so much that they had to cut me up. I now have a scar which is 20 inches on my midriff. I got so hyper about the scar on my body. I was so frightened of it. I didn't know if I would come back or not."

[caption id="attachment_206666" align="aligncenter" width="647"] Sonali Bendre[/caption]

She added, “My sister hugged me when I was going for the surgery, I said "Don't be dramatic, I'm coming back. But that part was painful, the thought that I might not be there for my son and family. I was happy when I came out of the hospital and said yes, I'm alive. But you must minimise the pain, and prolong the good moments.”

Sonali has been inspiring millions with her courage and bravery and her friends, fans and family are extremely happy that the actress is back after undergoing successful surgery and treatment for the Big C.