These celebs faced cancer with fortitude and emerged victorious; here’s sharing lessons from their journey

Mona

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“Cancer is a word, not a sentence,” said writer- presenter John Diamond, and, just like him, celebs across the world have fought a deadly battle against it. Here are some crusaders who have fought against cancer…

Flaunt your scars

Chandigarh-girl Tahira Kashyap has only emerged stronger post her battle with breast cancer. She took to Instagram on the last National Cancer Survivors Day and penned an inspiring poem. “Fall in love with your self,/All with dust, scar and grime./ For that’s what make you, You/ Faulty, imperfect, blemished but all true!” are the last lines of her verse that implore to ‘hide not the scars but to flaunt them, just like your bright smile, soothing to others eyes’. She posted a picture along with the poem that showed the scar after her surgery.

Live it up

Embrace the truth and live each day with its high and lows, switching on one’s inner sunshine; actress Sonali Bendre chronicled her fight with high grade cancer with the hashtag #OneDayAtATime. Being positive is half the battle won; she posted, “I’m taking this battle head on, knowing I have the strength of my family and friends behind me,” when she got diagnosed. She shared photos and videos, boldly embracing her bald look while fighting through it all.

Believe in yourself

We know ace cricketer Yuvraj Singh’s story — making a comeback after fighting a rare germ cell tumour. “This game taught me how to fight. I have failed more times than I succeeded and I will never give up,” he shared with The Tribune in an earlier interview. Now, he extends help to those fighting cancer with his foundation YouWeCan.

Inner strength

Actor Irrfan Khan, after getting treated in the UK for cancer, gave a remarkable performance in his last film Angrezi Medium. The Life of Pi actor shared after his diagnosis and treatment, “Maybe somewhere in the pursuit of winning, we forget how much it means to be loved. In our vulnerability, we are reminded. As I leave my foootprints onto these steps of my life, I want to pause to be grateful for receiving your immense love and support, it soothed me in my process of healing.” Though he is no more, he lives in the impressive body of work he has left behind.

Sharing helps

“I believe that sharing helps lower the burden from your head and heart,” said Manisha Koirala, who fought ovarian cancer in 2012. She wrote about her journey in Healed: How Cancer Gave Me a New Life. She credited cancer for playing a transforming role, which taught her to honour her body and appreciate life.