Padma Lakshmi Reveals ‘Top Chef’ Contestant Has Undergone Surgery In Cancer Fight

Padma Lakshmi revealed Top Chef contestant Fatima Ali has undergone an operation at New York City’s Sloane Kettering to remove a cancerous tumor.

“I’d love it if everyone joins me today in saying a special prayer for our Fatima who went into surgery a couple hours ago,” Lakshmi, 47, said on social media.

“She was in good spirits when we walked her into OR, and am hoping for a great outcome today.”

Ali, 28, has had to undergo multiple rounds of chemotherapy in her fight against the soft tissue and bone cancer Ewing’s Sarcoma, which first appeared in her left shoulder, causing her excruciating pain last fall.

Luckily, Ali has been able to depend on her Season 15 Top Chef co-participants and the show’s bighearted hosts.

“All of the contestants have reached out in many ways; we are a tight group. I’ve had an outpouring of lovely messages and care packages from the production team and the producers,” Ali said in a December interview.

“And Padma has been wonderful,” added the chef. “We've caught up over lunch, and she has come to sit with me during my chemo treatments to keep me company. I'm pretty thankful for my Top Chef fam.”