Kali (Swami Abhedananda) recalled:
One day the Master was in deep samadhi, seated on his bed like a wooden statue. He had no outer consciousness. Dr. Mahendralal Sarkar checked his pulse and felt no throbbing. He then put his stethoscope on the Master’s heart and did not get a heartbeat. Next, Dr. Sarkar touched the Master’s eyeballs with his finger, but still the Master’s outer consciousness did not return. The doctor was dumbfounded. After some time the Master returned to the normal plane of consciousness and began talking with the doctor about God.
It may be asked why the Master had cancer. It is really difficult to answer this question. Once while staying at the Shyampukur house the Master said: “The Divine Mother has shown me that people are getting rid of their sins by touching my feet. I am absorbing the results of their sinful actions, so I am suffering from this terrible cancer.” This is called “vicarious atonement.”
…. One day the Master told his disciples: “This cancer in my throat is a ruse. It is because of this that you have gathered together.” (Source: God Lived with Them)