World Cancer Day falls on February 4 every year. While it is an important day, it shouldn’t be limited to just one day and the need to spread awareness about this disease should happen year long. Cancer Day seeks to show support and take collective action to those battling it and those who have survived it. The need of the hour is to look for signs and get it checked early to remedy it soon.

Here are celebrities who are battling or have battled cancer and are inspiring millions with their story.

Sonali Bendre

In July last year, actress Sonali Bendre took to social media to share the news and that she’s in New York for treatment. “Sometimes, when you least expect it, life throws you a curveball. I have recently been diagnosed with a high-grade cancer that has metastised, which we frankly did not see coming. A niggling pain led to some tests, which led to this unexpected diagnosis. My family and close friends have rallied around me, providing the best support system that anyone can ask for. I am very blessed and thankful for each of them,” she wrote. She has since even posted inspiring messages on the same, with her now taking a break from chemotherapy and recuperating in India.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Btc7nmpBr30/

 

Gauthami Tadimalla

The actress who is now 50-years-old was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 35. She has always rallied for the cause of awareness and has never shied away from speaking about how she battled it.

“One for One, We are there for Everyone”…Let us #celebrate #life and work towards a #CancerFreeWorld @LifeAgain #WorldCancerDay #IAmAndIWill @uicc pic.twitter.com/j8z3ZH9814

— Gautami (@gautamitads) February 4, 2019

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 to my #CancerWarriors who inspire & lead me everyday! Had a fantastic Sunday morn @ #ElliottsBeach w DrShantha #AdyarCancer & team! #Awareness about #Cancer can #SaveLives #CancerIsCurable @LifeAgain @uicc pic.twitter.com/jIyZe25LRM

— Gautami (@gautamitads) February 3, 2019

 

Manisha Koirala

Manisha Koirala recently opened up about her long battle against cancer and how it changed her life. She even wrote a book “Healed” based on her experience and it was released earlier last month. The 48-year-old actress, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, said that the dreaded disease had changed her as a person, as she is now kinder and values her life and health more. It taught her that we are all interconnected and intertwined. “I took my life for granted. I neglected my health, that is why cancer came to me as a teacher, it came to me as a lesson. I value my life more now, love my family, value my health because I realised if one is not healthy, one cannot enjoy any aspect of living,” she said in a recent interview.

“Cancer made me face my own mortality. I realized that the fear of death was crippling my emotions. I told myself that this fear was unnecessary since death was a natural process of life” – Manisha Koirala (@mkoirala) via #Healed. Wisdom of experience. #WorldCancerDay pic.twitter.com/sGc238aZvz

— Manisha Koirala fc (@FcKoirala) February 4, 2019

 

Mamta Mohandas

Actress and singer Mamta had battled Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She had a cancer relapse in 2013 but has always been vocal about how she fought the disease with a lot of courage. She took to social media to share her story recently.

View this post on Instagram

As it’s WORLD CANCER DAY, I had decided that my #10yearchallenge will have to wait until today “I GOT CANCER… CANCER DIDN’T GET ME”🌚🌝 2009 was the year that changed everything for me and impacted every plan my family had for us. Last 10 years has been quite a challenge and as I look back come 2019, I’m proud to realize that I have fought tirelessly, stayed strong and survived. Staying positive and strong for several years is very hard but if I have done it, there are a few people behind it. All Thanks to Dad-Mom(thank you is a speck of a word to express my gratitude to you), a few of my cousins who have shown me what sibling-love is and my dearest friends who always cared to call or text to check if I am ‘actually well’ and not just pretending to be ok(strong people tend to do this a lot and eventually run into depression 😄🤦🏻‍♀️🤭), all the good work that comes my way and colleagues who challenge me to perform better and to all the opportunities given to me by the universe to realize what’s right for me and what’s not Never forget Bald Heads Turn Heads 😁 HAPPY WORLD CANCER DAY! #worldcancerday #survivor #nevergiveup #dealwithit #attitude #gratitude #happiness #stressfree #challenge #runner

A post shared by Mamta Mohandas (@mamtamohan) on Feb 4, 2019 at 12:01am PST

 

Lisa Ray

Actress Lisa Ray was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the white blood cells known as plasma cells, which produce antibodies in 2009. It is a rare disease. In April 2010, she announced that she was cancer-free, after a stem cell transplant. She has also been vocal about her experiences.

Everyone is handed adversity in life.
No one’s journey is easy.
It’s how you react that makes people unique…how can you endure cancer and draw from it healing? This is the question no one else can answer but yourself. #WorldCancerDay pic.twitter.com/OqXLGl1Hzt

— Lisa Ray (@Lisaraniray) February 4, 2019