Actor and cancer survivor Sonali Bendre has highlighted the body’s natural process of autophagy as a source of hope during her healing journey, calling it a powerful internal mechanism “for cellular repair and recovery.”
Autophagy—an essential biological process where cells break down and recycle damaged components—is real and well-established, experts confirm. However, scientists caution that its relationship with healing, ageing and diseases like cancer is far from simple.
Researchers associated with institutions such as the National Cancer Institute and biologists studying cellular pathways often describe autophagy as a survival process, not a cure trigger.
A senior doctor from a leading health network explained, “Autophagy definitely exists, but it is not a magic reset button. It can support cell maintenance, reduce stress, and help the body adapt—but it does not act like a cure switch we can manually activate.”
Scientists studying cellular recycling through pathways identified by the lysosome note that autophagy may sometimes even help cancer cells survive under stress, making its exact effect context-specific and complicated.
Experts emphasise that practices like intermittent fasting, balanced nutrition, exercise, and metabolic regulation can influence autophagy indirectly, but with limits. “It may be a helpful ally in overall recovery, but not a stand-alone therapy, cure or guaranteed outcome—especially in cancer,” a clinician added. “Autophagy is biology, not a cure blueprint.”
Another specialist summarised it clearly: “Autophagy supports healing the way good soil supports growth—important, beneficial, but not the plant itself. It is not a replacement for evidence-based cancer treatment.”
As Bendre continues to inspire survivors with her resilience and wellness explorations, medical professionals reaffirm that autophagy science is promising—but not a shortcut, remedy, or oncological cure path. Healing is multi-layered, long-term, and individual.
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