Jane Fonda, one of the world’s most loved and admired celebrities, has spoken out about her cancer diagnosis for the first time.
The eighty-four-year-old actress said she “feels stronger than she has in years.”
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Fonda’s career spans decades and genres.
And she’s also a passionate activist, fighting against war, homophobia, and misogyny.
Fonda’s acting career began in the 1960s.
She starred in movies such as Barbarella and Walk on the Wild Side, for which she scored a Golden Globe for ‘Most Promising Newcomer.’
During the 1960s, Fonda engaged in political activism in support of the Civil Rights Movement.
And in opposition to the Vietnam War.
In the ’70s, Fonda won her first Academy Award for Best Actress.
This was for her role in murder mystery hit, Klute.
Fonda was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking by authorities at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in 1970.
Fonda has since claimed that the arresting officer told her he was acting on direct orders from the Nixon White House.
And although she claimed the pills were nothing but harmless vitamins…
She was booked by police and then released on bond.
In 1980, Fonda starred in 9 to 5 alongside Dolly Parton.
And, in 1982, she released her first exercise video, Jane Fonda’s Workout.
1990 saw Fonda star in romantic drama Stanley & Iris alongside Robert De Niro.
This was to be her last movie in fifteen years.
But the star did return to acting in 2005, with the much-loved movie Monster-in-Law, also starring J-Lo.
Peace, Love and Misunderstanding, Youth, and Fathers and Daughters, among many other hit movies, were all released within the next 10 years.
In 2010, Fonda underwent a procedure to remove a non-cancerous lump in her breast.
And, in 2016, she announced that she had undergone a mastectomy.
A few years later, in 2019, Fonda revealed that she had a cancerous growth removed from her lip.
“I’ve had a lot of cancer,” Fonda told Vogue that same year.
And, more recently, Fonda has gone on to star in movies such as Deadpool 2 and rom-com, Book Club.
And, of course, we all know Fonda as titular character Grace in Netflix’s Grace and Frankie.
Recently, opened up in an interview about the show and how her life has changed now she’s gotten older.
The show, which stars Fonda alongside her co-star Lily Tomlin, who she’s good friends with in real life, centers around 2 women who become friends after their husbands reveal they are dating.
The series has been going for a whopping 7 years, and the remaining episodes of the seventh and final series were released on Friday, April 29.
The trailer left us all feeling a little emotional. It showed friends Grace and Frankie together for the final time as they reminisced about growing older.
Fonda promoted the series on CBS Sunday Morning and shared that after turning eighty-four, she’s “super-conscious that I’m closer to death. And it doesn’t really bother me that much.”
However, she did say: “What bothers me is that my body is, you know basically not mine!” She continued: “My knees are not mine, my hips are not mine, my shoulder’s not mine. You’re looking at somebody who’s only me from here up.”
Despite Fonda being known as a fitness icon in her youth, it doesn’t seem to bother her that she can’t do as much anymore…
“The fact that I’m still alive and working, wow, who cares if I don’t have my old joints? And I can’t ski or bike or run anymore? Eh. You know, you can be really old at 60, and you can be really young at 85. Health!” she said.
Fonda also admitted that she no longer drinks alcohol as it leaves her feeling “half-mast” the day after.
She explained: “And here’s why: It’s because even with one drink, like, if I had a martini tonight, I would be at half-mast tomorrow,” adding: “Now, that wasn’t true when I was younger. But as you get older, I think alcohol affects you differently. And I only have so many tomorrows left. I don’t want to be at half-mast for any of them!”
We love her outlook on life!
But Fonda has made a heartbreaking announcement on social media.
The eighty-four-year-old icon took to Instagram to that she has been diagnosed with cancer.
“So, my dear friends, I have something personal I want to share,” she began.
“I’ve been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and have started chemo treatments.”
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in the lymphatic system.
And the lymphatic system is a part of the immune system dedicated to fighting germs.
“This is a very treatable cancer. 80 per cent 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,” said Fonda.
“We also need to be talking much more not just about cures but about causes so we can eliminate them.
“For example, people need to know that fossil fuels cause cancer. So do pesticides, many of which are fossil fuel-based, like mine,” she added.
“I’m doing chemo for 6 months and am handling the treatments quite well and, believe me, I will not let any of this interfere with my climate activism.
“Cancer is a teacher and I’m paying attention to the lessons it holds for me. 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,” Fonda continued.
“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,” she said.
“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 finished.
And now, the actress has opened up about her cancer diagnosis.
In a post on her official blog, she shared that she was “deeply moved and uplifted by the expressions of love from fans,” after revealing she was diagnosed with Lymphoma.
She also shared that she was due to start chemotherapy in 3 weeks’ time.
Despite battling the same disease previously, she said her condition could be “very treatable.”
Fonda wrote in her post: “I have been deeply moved and uplifted by all the expressions of love and support since I made public the fact that I’ve been diagnosed with B-cell Non-Hodgins Lymphoma.”
“My heartfelt thanks to all. The messages of love and support mean the world to me.
“I want to say again that this is a very treatable cancer, and much progress has been made with the medicines patients are given,” she said.
“Since last week, so many people have written to me or posted that they have had this type of cancer and have been cancer-free for many decades.
“Well, I’ll soon be 85, so I won’t have to worry about ‘many decades.’ One will do just fine,” Fonda added.
As for her current state of health, Fonda admitted that she is feeling very well ahead of her first chemotherapy session.
And shared that she’s following the advice given to her by her doctor to help keep her active.
“The doctor told me the best antidote to the tiredness that chemotherapy can cause is to move. Walk.
“And I have been walking. Very early before the record heat kicks in. Also working out,” said Fonda.
She also shared a YouTube video, showing her doing squats while she leans on a green ball and holding dumbbells.
Fonda added that it’s not her first battle fighting cancer…
As she previously fought breast cancer and survived.
She noted that despite her battle with cancer, it wouldn’t get in the way of her work of  “confronting the urgent climate crisis, caused by fossil fuels.”
“This diagnosis has only made me more determined than ever to continue to end the deadly effects of fossil fuels.
“While most of us know that fossil fuels are the primary cause of the climate crisis, many may not know that fossil fuel emissions also cause cancer as well as other major health problems like birth defects, childhood leukemia, heart attacks, strokes, lung disease, and preterm birth,” she said.
Fonda admitted that sees her cancer as another obstacle to her main mission in life to end the deadly correlation.
“It does not have to be this way. We have it within our power to change this, and I intend to do everything in my power to do so. This cancer will not deter me,” she said.