Actress Jane Fonda shared the news with followers Friday that she’s been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and has already begun chemotherapy treatments to deal with the cancer.
In a lengthy post the 84-year-old activist shared on Instagram, Fonda talked about how she recognizes she’s privileged to have access to the “best doctors and treatments” available to fight the cancer, and even touched on the need to eliminate fossil fuels.
“So, my dear friends, I have something personal I want to share,” the actress wrote. “I’ve been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and have started chemo treatments. This is a very treatable cancer. 80% of people survive, so I feel very lucky.”
“I’m also lucky because I have health insurance and access to the best doctors and treatments,” she added. “I realize, and it’s painful, that I am privileged in this. Almost every family in America has had to deal with cancer at one time or another and far too many don’t have access to the quality health care I am receiving and this is not right.”
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“We also need to be talking much more not just about cures but about causes so we can eliminate them,” Fonda continued. “For example, people need to know that fossil fuels cause cancer. So do pesticides, many of which are fossil fuel-based, like mine.”
The Academy Award-winning actress explained that she’s planning to do chemo for six months and has been “handling the treatments quite well” as she declared that it won’t stop her climate activism.
“We’re living through the most consequential time in human history because what we do or don’t do right now will determine what kind of future there will be and I will not allow cancer to keep me from doing all I can, using every tool in my toolbox and that very much includes continuing to build this Fire Drill Fridays community and finding new ways to use our collective strength to make change,” Fonda explained.
“The midterms are looming, and they are beyond consequential so you can count on me to be right there together with you as we grow our army of climate champions,” she added.