On World Cancer Day, here are a few celebs who have emerged stronger while fighting this life-threatening disease
In the recent past, several popular faces have been candid about their tryst with cancer. In the process, they have not only given us life lessons about how to emerge triumphant in the face of adversity but also rediscovered their reserves of strength in the process. While there have been some like Manisha Koirala and Lisa Ray, who have admitted how this experience made them more grateful about life, others including Sonali Bendre Behl, Irrfan and Tahira Kashyap have used social media to tell their story. From deciding how to break the news to their fans to keeping them updated about their health condition and finding support, they have documented their trials and tribulations, thereby serving as a source of inspiration for many.
1. MANISHA KOIRALA: OVARIAN CANCER
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Manisha Koirala was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 42. Several surgeries and Chemotherapy sessions followed, until she was declared cancer-free in 2015. The actor has gone on record to speak about her struggle with the disease during her TED Talks, where she revealed how this ailment helped her look back at her life and assess her choices. She also chronicled her journey in a recently-released book Healed: How Cancer Gave Me A New Life. The Nepali beauty summed up her struggle with these lines, “I think cancer came into my life as a gift. My vision is sharper, my mind clearer, my perspective realigned.” The award-winning star made an impressive comeback to movies with pivotal roles in Lust Stories and Sanjay Dutt’s biopic Sanju.
2. IRRFAN: NEUROENDOCRINE CANCER
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In March 2018, Irrfan took to Twitter to reveal that he had been diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer. The National Award winner penned his battle with the disease in a letter that read, “It’s been quite some time now since I have been diagnosed with a high-grade neuroendocrine cancer. This new name in my vocabulary, I got to know, was rare, and due to fewer study cases, and less information comparatively, the unpredictability of the treatment was more... I was travelling on a speedy train ride, had dreams, plans, aspirations, goals, was fully engaged in them. And suddenly someone taps on my shoulder and I turn to see. It’s the TC: ‘Your destination is about to come. Please get down.’ I am confused: ‘No, no. My destination hasn’t come. No, this is it.’ The only thing I expect from ME is not to face this crisis in this present state. I desperately need my feet. Fear and panic should not overrule me and make me miserable. (sic)” The actor has since admitted that his outlook towards life has changed for the better.
3. SONALI BENDRE BEHL: METASTATIC CANCER
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The news of Sonali Bendre Behl being diagnosed with metastatic cancer sent shockwaves among her fans last year. She quit as a judge from a popular talent show to undergo treatment. Since then, she has been vocal about her fears, documenting her life post diagnosis on her social media handles. The actress, who was known for her lustrous long locks, shared pictures of her short cropped hair with her fans and revealed how she was apprehensive before chopping them off. Later, she also wrote an emotional note on how she broke the news to her son, Ranveer, who became her biggest source of strength during these trying times. Sonali, who returned to the bay last month posed for the shutterbugs sportingly flashing her winsome smile. On Saturday, she shared a post about being grateful to be back on the sets.
4. RAKESH ROSHAN: SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA
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Last month, Hrithik Roshan took to Instagram to talk about his actor-filmmaker and father Rakesh Roshan’s battle with squamous cell carcinoma, a type of throat cancer. He wrote, “Asked my dad for a picture this morning. Knew he wouldn’t miss gym on surgery day. He is probably the strongest man I know. Got diagnosed with early-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the throat a few weeks ago, but he is in full spirits today as he proceeds to battle it. As a family we are fortunate and blessed to have a leader like him (sic).” This was also followed by another post on his birthday, where Hrithik expressed gratitude post his father’s surgery, sharing beaming pictures of the family to mark the special day. The 69-year-old filmmaker proved that nothing could deter him as he posed for an image in his gym wear with his dapper son flashing a smile.
5. TAHIRA KASHYAP: BREAST CANCER
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Last September, actor Ayushmann Khurrana’s wife Tahira Kashyap was diagnosed with Stage 0 cancer and she revealed on social media that she had undergone a mastectomy. However, the cancer returned, and Tahira in an Instagram post shared that she had Stage 1 breast cancer. The mother of two has been candid about how her multi-talented husband has been her constant pillar of strength. Rather than trying hard to hide her bald look, she took pride in it and flaunted it on the photo-sharing app, driving home the message that one should embrace oneself wholeheartedly. Tahira hasn’t let this ailment deter her and is now gearing up for her directorial debut.
6. LISA RAY: BLOOD CANCER
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In 2009, the Indian-born actress was diagnosed with multiple Myeloma (a type of blood cancer). While she chose to keep things quiet initially, she fought the disease for over a year, and emerged stronger from the experience. In 2010, she went public sharing she had a full stem cell replacement and was cancer-free, but, not fully cured as this disease is treatable but not curable. She has gone on to state that she received grace from cancer. In her words, “Because there’s so much to be grateful for. Because there’s so much grace I received from cancer. I send strong currents back to you, to persevere in finding what makes you happy and to feel at home in your body and spirit. Happy Birthday to Lisa 2.0.”
