Somaya El Alfi Fought Cancer and Rare Diseases... and Married Four Artists

With her passing, a chapter closes on an artist who spent her final years between pain and patience, presenting a touching human example in facing illness.

Today, Egyptian actress Somaya El Alfi passed away after a long journey of suffering from diseases, the last of which was her battle with cancer. With her departure, a chapter closes on an artist who spent her final years between pain and patience, offering a moving human model in confronting illness.

Somaya El Alfi began her artistic career in the 1970s, participating in a number of cinematic, television, and theatrical works. She was known for her calm performance and her ability to portray social and human characters, especially strong women and mother roles, which earned her the respect of the audience and a special place in Egyptian drama.

Despite her gradual withdrawal from the artistic scene in recent years, her name remained present thanks to her artistic legacy and her human relationships within the community.

A Difficult Health Battle with a Rare Disease and Cancer

In 2010, Somaya El Alfi announced her retirement from acting due to a health crisis and weight gain. She was diagnosed with a rare disease involving the formation of cysts filled with spinal fluid in the pelvic and uterine area, which led to her inability to move normally.

In 2017, she revealed that her illness forced her to undergo about seven surgeries in several countries, including Switzerland, Germany, the United States, and Egypt. At that time, she explained that she suffered severe pain that prevented her from walking and went through a harsh health phase that required long and painful treatment.

She confirmed in several media interviews that the late artist Farouk El Fishawy accompanied her during that difficult treatment journey and stood by her until she overcame the most critical stages of the illness, despite their separation.

In 2021, she announced she had been diagnosed with a breast tumor, discovered by chance after feeling unusual fatigue. She underwent surgery to remove the tumor and lymph nodes, then received chemotherapy that caused her hair loss. In 2022, she announced an improvement in her health and a reduction in the number of treatment doses.

In 2023, she announced her complete recovery from cancer, confirming that all tests were reassuring. She sent a message of hope to patients, urging them not to give up and to hold on to faith and acceptance.

A Complex Relationship with Farouk El Fishawy

Despite marrying three times after him, Somaya El Alfi's relationship with the late artist Farouk El Fishawy was one of the most controversial relationships in the artistic community. She spoke openly in several interviews about their marriage and the infidelity she endured, confirming that she forgave him multiple times out of love and her inability to accept the failure of the marriage that produced their two sons, Ahmed El Fishawy and Omar El Fishawy.

She revealed that the first infidelity happened a year after their marriage, and she chose to remain silent and not inform the families to preserve the family's stability. She also touched on the story of Farouk El Fishawy's relationship with artist Laila Eloui, considering her the main reason for their first divorce.

She categorically denied rumors that she went to a "spiritual healer" to return to El Fishawy after their third divorce, affirming that these stories were untrue and never happened.

One notable revelation about her relationship with El Fishawy was that she underwent 12 miscarriages.

After her final divorce from El Fishawy, she married composer Moody El Imam, then director Gamal Abdel Hamid, and later singer Medhat Saleh.

Somaya El Alfi said she wished she had been Farouk El Fishawy's wife in his final days to be with him in the hospital 24 hours a day, serving and caring for him well after he was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 2019.