Jane Fonda announces she has been diagnosed with cancer

"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."

Hollywood icon Jane Fonda took to social media yesterday to reveal that she has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and that she is currently receiving treatment for the disease. The 84-year-old, in a real power mood, took to Instagram in a lengthy post, and with it raised awareness not just for cancer, but also for the unfairness of the US health system and the importance of taking climate action. The Grace & Frankie star wrote: "So, my dear friends, I have something personal I want to share. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Hollywood megastar Jane Fonda says she has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and that she is receiving chemotherapy for the disease."

Previous cancer diagnosis

Fonda, a two-time Oscar winner, has previously spoken about having cancer before as well, admitting to Vogue once that she attended the 2016 Golden Globes in a ruffled white dress designed to disguise recent surgery she'd had to remove her breast.

"I get out of the car and I have the strange white dress with all the ruffles? That's because I'd just had a mastectomy and I had to cover my bandages." As well as breast cancer, Fonda says she has had skin cancer before too, blaming the latter on her past love of sunbathing. As for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, this cancer is a type of cancer that affects the body's immune system, with symptoms including swollen lymph nodes, abdominal and chest pain, fevers, fatigue and weight loss.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the cancer can occur at any age, but the risks increases with age as it's most common in people 60 and over.