Pakistani celebs speak out on cancer awareness

KARACHI:

Every October, pink ribbons appear across social media, hospitals and public spaces as Breast Cancer Awareness Month encourages women to recognise warning signs and seek timely medical advice. In Pakistan, actresses Angeline Malik and Nadia Jamil have used their experiences with cancer to raise awareness, while the death of veteran actor Naila Jaffri remains a reminder of the challenges patients face.

Diagnosed with cancer, Angeline Malik has shared aspects of her treatment journey, including chemotherapy, to encourage others to seek help and speak openly about the disease.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Malik emphasised the importance of awareness and early medical intervention.

"Look, I love all my fans that I am standing in front of you right now. This battle against cancer never ends and we should talk about it. Because there were a lot of things that I did not know. I try to create awareness on my platform. Please get your tests done and do not ignore help. Because for me, I realised too late."

Malik's message reflects the uncertainty that accompanies a cancer diagnosis and the importance of seeking support. By discussing her experience publicly, she hopes to help women recognise the importance of their health and avoid delaying medical attention.

Nadia Jamil, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, has also spoken candidly about treatment, recovery and the emotional impact of the disease.

In an Instagram post marking Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day on 13 October, Jamil recalled chemotherapy sessions, hospital waiting rooms and the loss of people who, she wrote, should still be alive.

"Cancer took so much from me. But it also gave me something I never expected. It showed me my own strength and resilience. It taught me that I can stand up for myself, fully and fiercely, and never again wait for anyone else to meet my needs," she wrote.

Reflecting on the faith and community she found during her illness, she added, "It gave me a community of extraordinary women. And it gave me Faith, with a capital F, in the Almighty. Unwavering. Unshakeable. Alhamdulillah."

Jamil extended her support to women living with metastatic breast cancer, in which the disease spreads beyond the breast to other parts of the body.

"You are not a statistic. You are not your diagnosis. You are mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, women with laughter and plans and dreams that still matter," she wrote.

She encouraged women who have completed treatment to attend follow-up appointments and remain attentive to changes in their bodies.

"And to every woman hearing those words for the first time this week: you are stronger than you know, and we are with you. Hum saath hain."

She concluded: "Cancer takes so much. But it does not get to take our voice, our dignity, our faith, or each other."

Veteran television and theatre actor Naila Jaffri died in Karachi on 17 July 2021, aged 56, after battling cancer for several years. She had appealed to television channels to pay royalties for repeat broadcasts, explaining that the payments could help actors meet medical expenses when illness prevented them from working.

The experiences of Malik and Jamil, alongside Jaffri's story, underline the importance of open conversations about cancer, access to medical care and emotional support.