Actor Jane Fonda revealed her non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis on Instagram and the beginning of her chemotherapy regimen.
In the post, Fonda assured her fans and followers that the cancer was “very treatable.” “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. 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.”
“I am handling the treatments quite well and, believe me, I will not let any of this interfere with my climate activism,” Fonda stated, adding that she will be “doing chemo for 6 months.”
“Cancer is a teacher and I’m paying attention to the lessons it holds for me,” the actor added. “One thing it’s shown me already is the importance of community. Of growing and deepening one’s community so that we are not alone. And the cancer, along with my age — almost 85 — definitely teaches the importance of adapting to new realities.”
In December, Fonda turns 85 years old. The two-time Oscar winner’s new Netflix series Grace and Frankie and her ongoing involvement in the political and climate change fields have both helped to sustain her career in recent years. Fonda promised to continue her campaigning despite her illness.
“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 added.
“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,” Fonda concluded in her post.
