Kuberan star Uma Shankari reveals breast cancer battle and second-phase chemotherapy

Breast cancer has been the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Indian women for the past few years. To raise awareness of the disease, many celebrities have also been vocal about their diagnoses of the cancer. Most recently, South Indian actress Uma Shankari, who won the hearts of Malayalam moviegoers with her delightful performance in the Dileep-starrer Kuberan, shared her breast cancer battle on social media. Uma Shankari revealed that she has begun her second phase of chemotherapy.

Sharing her journey with her followers, Uma wrote, "Round 2 of chemo/immuno, and I’m taking it one day at a time. I’m learning how to handle the days that are heavy, and celebrating the days I feel strong. Thank you to my family for always standing by me, and to my fans for the love and support. I’m showing up, healing, and staying focused on progress. Progress isn’t perfect, but it’s real.(sic)"

A devastating diagnosis and the path to acceptance
Uma, who transitioned away from active acting following her marriage, first opened up about her diagnosis in June this year. She admitted the news came as a massive shock, turning her world upside down. Initially, she found herself overwhelmed by feelings of denial and grief, asking questions like 'Why me?' and 'Why now?'

However, surrounded by the unconditional love of her family, she chose to face the reality of her diagnosis with courage. Reflecting on her initial reaction, she shared, "I am not going to pretend this is easy. I have been diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. From the initial shock to the feeling of 'this can never happen to me', I am still in disbelief. It is too much to bear. But after many tearful days, through continuous prayers and family support, I have prepared my mind to fight this. I do not intend to surrender to fate."

What patients should know
While the number of breast cancer patients is increasing, patients should also know that the survival rates from the disease are also increasing globally. The most important aspect to remember is that early diagnosis is required for effective treatment. While breast cancer in itself has no cure, the advancement in treatments helps extend life, says the Mayo Clinic.

Types of breast cancer
There are around eight types of breast cancer. They are:
Recurrent breast cancer
Paget's disease of the breast
Inflammatory breast cancer
Male breast cancer
Invasive lobular carcinoma
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
Angiosarcoma
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

Unconditional support from family
Uma expressed her deepest gratitude to her husband, H Dushyanth, and her son, who have been her pillars of strength throughout this challenging period. "To my dear husband, thank you from the bottom of my heart for standing by me and showing such courage. Son, thank you for your strength. Your bravery is my strength. I will fight this with everything I have, and I firmly believe I will return completely healthy. Please pray for me," she wrote in her emotional note.

The actress was a prominent face in South Indian cinema during the early 2000s, working across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada films. She is the daughter of Kannada film director D Rajendra Babu and veteran actor Sumithra, who has delivered stellar performances in iconic Malayalam films such as Nirmalyam. Uma's sister, Nakshatra, is also an actor.