Why Sonia Gandhi chose a Milan hospital over Tata Memorial for cancer surgery

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has revealed her battle with breast cancer in her new memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love'. The book, released on November 10 in India, details her diagnosis in 2010 and subsequent medical treatments.

In the memoir, Sonia recounts the emotional moment of arriving at the hospital with daughter Priyanka for a medical procedure, describing feeling "my spirits sink" alongside Priyanka. She chose to undergo treatment away from the media spotlight in India, fearing the attention a surgery in Delhi would bring. Reflecting on her decision, she wrote, "I felt shaken and worried, there was no time to lose... I wasn’t keen to be at the centre of a media frenzy that would have inevitably accompanied a surgery in Delhi."

Sonia underwent her first surgery in Milan, Italy, where renowned breast cancer specialist Dr Umberto Veronesi removed two tumours and performed intra-operative radiation. This reduced the need for further radiotherapy. However, in 2011, doctors detected a growth in her pancreas during routine follow-up tests, leading to a second surgery in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The tumour was found at an early stage, according to the memoir.

Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast tissue grow abnormally. It typically starts in the milk ducts or lobules. While more common in women, men can also develop breast cancer. Early detection is crucial for effective treatment, which may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or targeted medicines.