NEW DELHI, November 11, 2026: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has revealed previously undisclosed details of her battle with breast cancer, recalling the fear of undergoing surgery in 2010, the emotional support of her children and her decision to seek treatment outside India to protect her privacy.
In her newly released memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, the former Congress president describes two serious health episodes during the second term of the United Progressive Alliance government.
The first involved surgery for breast cancer in Italy in 2010. A year later, doctors discovered a separate growth in her pancreas, leading to another operation in the Netherlands.
The disclosures offer a rare personal account from a political leader who had largely kept details of her medical history out of public discussion.
Sonia Gandhi Recalls Breast Cancer Diagnosis in 2010
Sonia writes that she had generally enjoyed good health before 2010, apart from occasional asthma, allergies and stomach-related problems.
Her situation changed when doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi advised her to undergo surgery for suspected breast cancer.
The diagnosis came as a shock.
She recalled being frightened by the possibility of a serious illness and worried about what the treatment might involve.
At the time, Sonia was serving as Congress president and chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, with considerable responsibilities in national politics.
The medical advice required her to make an immediate decision about surgery.
Her doctors discussed treatment options in India and abroad, including the possibility of an operation at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai.
Although Sonia trusted the medical professionals treating her in Delhi, another concern weighed heavily on her decision.
She wanted to avoid public attention surrounding her illness.
Why Sonia Gandhi Chose Cancer Treatment Abroad
In her memoir, Sonia makes clear that her decision to travel abroad was closely connected to privacy rather than a lack of confidence in Indian doctors.
She feared that an operation in Delhi would attract intense media coverage at a time when she was already dealing with the uncertainty of a possible cancer diagnosis.
The prospect of having her medical condition discussed publicly was deeply uncomfortable for her.
Sonia questioned whether being a prominent political figure meant surrendering every aspect of her personal life.
After consulting her doctors and family, she decided to undergo surgery at the European Institute of Oncology near Milan, Italy.
The hospital was associated with renowned cancer surgeon Dr Umberto Veronesi, who performed the procedure.
Being in Italy also meant her sisters could stay nearby and support the family during the treatment.
Her account provides a different perspective on a medical episode that attracted speculation at the time because relatively little information was publicly disclosed.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Supported Their Mother Before Surgery
One of the most personal moments in the memoir concerns the day Sonia was taken into the operating theatre.
Her children, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were present as she prepared for the procedure.
Sonia recalls that both held her hands and kissed her forehead, reassuring her before the operation.
Other family members, including her sisters Nadia and Anouchka and son-in-law Robert Vadra, were also part of the support system around her treatment.
The experience was particularly difficult because the family was facing uncertainty about the diagnosis and its possible consequences.
In her account, Sonia describes the comfort she drew from having her children close during a frightening moment.
The surgery was performed by Dr Veronesi.
According to Sonia's recollection, two tumours were removed, including one that was not considered suspicious but was taken out as a precaution.
The surgeon also administered radiation during the operation, a measure she said allowed her to avoid several weeks of additional radiotherapy.
She was subsequently informed that the procedure had gone well.
Another Growth Was Discovered in Sonia Gandhi's Pancreas in 2011
The relief following her first surgery did not last without interruption.
During routine follow-up examinations in 2011, doctors detected a growth in Sonia's pancreas.
The discovery revived fears that her earlier illness might have returned or spread.
Sonia writes that both she and her children were alarmed by the news.
Doctors initially considered the possibility of a neuroendocrine tumour, and further consultations indicated that surgery was necessary.
The uncertainty surrounding the diagnosis became an additional source of anxiety.
She worried about whether the growth could be metastatic, whether chemotherapy might be required and how long she would need to remain away from her family and professional responsibilities.
Those concerns reflected what doctors were still investigating at the time, rather than a confirmed finding that her breast cancer had spread.
Sonia Gandhi Underwent Second Surgery in Rotterdam
For the second operation, Sonia travelled to the Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Her treatment was overseen by pancreatic surgeon Dr Casper van Eijck.
According to accounts of her memoir, the operation was lengthy, and she remained in hospital for approximately four weeks.
Priyanka spent much of that period at her mother's side.
Sonia recalls finding the recovery physically demanding, particularly after the stress of the diagnosis and surgery.
However, the medical findings brought considerable relief.
She writes that doctors explained the pancreatic tumour had been detected early and was in a preliminary precancerous stage.
The distinction is significant. A precancerous growth is not the same as confirmed metastatic cancer, and the public reporting of the memoir does not establish that the breast cancer had spread to her pancreas.
Sonia also recounts that she did not ultimately need chemotherapy following either operation.
Why Sonia Gandhi Kept Her Medical Treatment Private
The memoir also explains why information about the treatment remained limited during the second UPA government's tenure.
Sonia writes that she informed then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and a small number of senior colleagues before travelling for medical care.
She was reluctant to make a wider announcement because she did not want her health to become the subject of prolonged public discussion.
Her desire for privacy was particularly strong during the second health scare, when doctors had not yet established the precise nature of the pancreatic growth.
The account offers insight into the balance she was trying to maintain between public responsibilities and personal circumstances.
Although her political position attracted scrutiny, Sonia believed her medical decisions should remain a private family matter.
Belonging: A Journey of Love Reveals a Personal Side of Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi's memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, was released on November 10, 2026.
The book traces her journey from her early life in Italy to her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi, her experiences within the Nehru-Gandhi family and her eventual involvement in Indian politics.
It also revisits the deaths of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, important political decisions and the personal challenges that accompanied her public life.
The account of her medical treatment is among the book's most intimate disclosures.
Rather than concentrating on political disagreements, these passages describe how illness affected Sonia as a mother, family member and individual confronting uncertainty.
The recollections also reveal the support she received from Rahul and Priyanka during two difficult periods.
For readers, the memoir offers a perspective that was largely absent from public accounts of her life during those years.
Sonia's description of the surgeries is not a new medical announcement. It is her retrospective account of treatment undertaken in 2010 and 2011, now shared publicly for the first time in her own words.
Editorial disclosure: This article is based on reported passages from Sonia Gandhi's memoir and coverage by PTI, The Indian Express, NDTV and ThePrint. All India Story has not independently reviewed her confidential medical records.
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