Jane Fonda says cancer is in remission

Three months after revealing that she’d been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Jane Fonda’s cancer is in remission, the US actor and activist has announced, reports The Guardian.

In a blog post headlined “Best Birthday Present Ever”, Fonda wrote that her oncologist had told her she could “discontinue” the chemotherapy treatments she had received for her illness.

“I am feeling so blessed, so fortunate,” the blog post from Fonda - who turns 85 on 21 December - also said. “I thank all of you who prayed and sent good thoughts my way. I am confident that it played a role in the good news.”

Fonda, who has been a fitness guru as well, added that chemotherapy had been relatively “easy” the first four times besides the fatigue it caused. But her most recent treatment - which lasted two weeks - was more challenging and made it “hard to accomplish anything”, leaving her relieved to learn that signs of the cancer had reduced.

She said she plans to attend a rally and do some lobbying work in Washington DC while also speaking at two separate events.

The actor’s announcement in early September that she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma noted that she had been prepared to undergo chemotherapy for six months. Fonda at the time also said that she felt fortunate because doctors consider that particular illness as “very treatable”, with about 73% of people diagnosed with it surviving for at least five years, according to the American Cancer Society.

Fonda has used her diagnosis to call attention to how many Americans lack access to quality healthcare and medical insurance, and she has also sought to call attention to how fossil fuels and pesticides cause cancer.

“I have … access to the best doctors and treatments,” Fonda said in September. “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 healthcare I am receiving, and this is not right.”

This is at least the second bout that the two-time Oscar winner has had with cancer. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. After the tumor’s removal, Fonda’s publicist said the actor was cancer free.

Fonda won Academy Awards for Best Actress in 1971 and 1978 for her roles in Klute and Coming Home, respectively. She stars on Netflix’s longest-running show, the comedy series Grace and Frankie.

The actor made a name for herself off the screen protesting the Vietnam War as well as for her climate and feminist activism.