Yesterday, 4th of February was the annual World Cancer Day.
World Cancer Day is a day set aside to mark this deadly disease and spread the awareness of its risks and how to prevent, defeat and treat the disease.
Cancer is a disease caused by harmful mutations in the genes. The exact cause of cancer is not exactly known but we know that these harmful mutations can happen as a result of many things including exposure to harmful environmental factors like smoke, exposure to radiation and even an unhealthy lifestyle. Reports show that cancer resulted in 9.5 million deaths in 2018 alone and this value is expected to increase.
Cancer however is not a death sentence like most people believe. It can actually be beaten depending on several factors like the stage at detection, the growth rate of the cancerous cells and the type of treatments used.
Cancer can also be gotten by anybody. Nigerians please note that it is not a disease for the rich only. And the celebrities are not excluded either. A lot of our favorite celebrities have been diagnosed with cancer and they went on to come out with a victory over the disease. We have compiled a list of 10 celebrities who have beaten Cancer and are still very much alive. Take a look:
- Ben Stiller
This talented actor revealed that he had survived prostate cancer in 2014. He revealed this on a show after he was officially declared cancer-free in September 2016.
- Hugh Jackman
X-men star, Jackman revealed that he had been diagnosed with a type of skin cancer (Basal cell carcinoma) via Instagram in 2013. He had surgeries and treatments for it several times and he is now cancer-free.
- Banky W
Nigerian singer cum politician, Bankole Wellington told us that he was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor during his undergraduate days. He has had 3 surgeries to remove this tumor (the last one was in 2017) and he is currently free of the disease.
- Giuliana Rancic
This popular TV personality announced her diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer in 2011. She then took a break from TV to treat it and had a bilateral mastectomy. She has since been cancer-free and is partners with several nonprofit breast cancer research and awareness organizations.
- Wole Soyinka
Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka announced that he beat cancer in 2014. He told us of his prostate cancer diagnosis in 2013 and subsequent treatment. He was declared cancer-free by October 2014.
- Robert De Niro
Even The Godfather himself, Robert De Niro has had a brush with cancer. His agent announced in 2003 that the actor was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. The actor then revealed in 2006 that he had done a prostatectomy and he was cancer free.
- Michael Douglas
Academy award-winning actor, Michael Douglas initially announced a diagnosis of throat cancer in 2010. However, in 2013, Douglas revealed that he had actually been battling tongue cancer which he beat with chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatment.
- Vast
One member of Nigerian singing duo Bracket, Vast was diagnosed with Lymphoma (Cancer of the Blood) in 2014. He however went through a series of treatment in London and was declared cancer free in 2015.
- Karen Igho
Former Big Brother Africa winner, Karen igho announced that she had cancer in 2013. She then travelled to the UK for treatment and subsequently defeated the deadly disease.
- Lance Armstrong
Even the sports men are not left out. Former professional cyclist, lance Armstrong had to go through a series of rigorous treatment and rehabilitation to beat an ‘advanced and aggressive’ metastatic testicular cancer in 1996. He survived it and after his recovery, founded the Livestrong Foundation to assist other cancer survivors.
So as you can see from this list, Cancer can be beaten sometimes even in the advanced stage (as in the case of Lance Armstrong). So if you know anybody or you are going through challenges with cancer, don’t lose hope!
You can defeat that deadly disease!
Comments