Tannishtha Chatterjee, who has delivered impressive performances in films like Parched and Angry Indian Goddesses, took to social media to share her battle with stage 4 oligo metastatic cancer on Sunday. While her journey has been ‘incredibly difficult’ in the past 8 months, in her social media post, she chose to focus on ‘love and strength’. Thanking her amazing friends and family for their support during her tough time, she expressed her heartfelt gratitude to them.
“So the last 8 months have been incredibly difficult- to put it mildly. As if losing my father to cancer was not enough. 8 months back, I got diagnosed with stage 4 oligo metastatic cancer. But this post is not about pain. It’s about love and strength. It can’t get worse than this,” she wrote on Instagram.
“A 70-year-old mother and 9-year-old daughter, both totally dependent on me. But in the darkest moments, I discovered an extraordinary kind of love, the kind that shows up, holds space, and never lets you feel alone. I found it in my amazing friends and my family, whose unwavering support brought genuine smiles to my face, even on the hardest days,” she added.
“In a world racing towards AI and robots, it’s the irreplaceable compassion of real, passionate humans that is saving me. It is their empathy, their messages, their presence – their humanity – that is bringing life back. Cheers to female friendships, the sisterhood that showed up for me with fierce love, deep empathy, and unstoppable strength. You know who you are – and I am endlessly grateful,” the post further read.
How is oligometastatic cancer different from widespread metastatic cancer?
Being diagnosed with oligometastatic cancer means a patient has better survival chances compared to those suffering from widely metastatic disease. This is because oligometastatic cancer refers to a stage where the disease has spread beyond the primary organ, but only to sites fewer than 3-5. Whereas in case of widespread metastatic cancer, several organs are involved.
“When cancer spreads beyond its primary site, it is called metastatic cancer. However, oligometastatic cancer refers to a more limited stage where the disease has spread, but only to a few organs or sites—typically fewer than 3–5. This is different from widespread metastatic cancer, where multiple organs are extensively involved and treatment is largely aimed at palliation,” says Dr Ramana Gogi, Principal Consultant – Medical Oncology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram.
Can oligometastatic cancer be treated?
Unlike widespread metastatic cancer, where symptom relief and boosting quality of life are a priority, treatment could control oligometastatic cancer better and even extend survival.
“Oligometastatic cancer is often considered an intermediate stage between localized and widely metastatic disease. Because the spread is limited, aggressive treatment such as surgery, stereotactic radiotherapy, or targeted systemic therapy may still control the disease and, in some cases, prolong survival significantly,” says Dr Gogi.
Common types of oligometastatic cancers
The common types include breast, colorectal, lung, prostate, kidney, and certain sarcomas.
What are the survival chances?
According to experts, the 5-year survival chances in case of oligometastatic disease are much higher than the of widespread metastatic cancer.
“While prognosis depends on cancer type, number, and location of metastases, patients with oligometastatic disease tend to have much better outcomes compared to widespread metastases. Some patients achieve long-term remission with curative-intent treatment. For example, in select cases of lung or colorectal cancer with limited liver or lung spread, 5-year survival can be significantly higher than in widespread disease,” says Dr Gogi.
Who is diagnosed with oligometastatic disease?
Patients with aggressive cancers that have the potential to spread, but are caught early in their metastatic stage, and younger patients and those with better overall health may be more likely to be offered aggressive interventions for oligometastatic disease.
Symptoms to watch out for
Symptoms vary based on where metastases occur, says Dr. They may include:
Persistent bone pain or fractures in case the cancer has spread to bones
Shortness of breath, cough, or chest pain in case the spread is in lungs
Jaundice, abdominal pain, or weight loss in case of liver involvement
Neurological changes like headaches, seizures, or weakness if the cancer has spread to the brain
In many cases, oligometastatic cancer is found incidentally during staging scans, before symptoms become severe.