Lisa Ray, a cancer survivor, says she was heartbroken at being replaced in a travel show after chemo

Cancer survivor Lisa Ray has chronicled her battle and recovery on National Cancer Awareness Day. Lisa was diagnosed with cancer of the plasma of the bone marrow in 2009 and was declared cancer-free after she underwent a stem cell transplant. Her long post for Humans Of Bombay read, ‘'How are you still standing? Your red blood cell count is so low that you can go into cardiac arrest any moment!' That's what my doctor said when she 1st saw my blood test report. I'd been experiencing fatigue for months. And a few tests later, another doctor said, 'You've cancer of the plasma of the bone marrow.' At that moment, for the 1st time in years, I stopped and took a breath. I'd always been on the go. But while a part of me lived on the red carpet, the other craved spiritual peace - extreme ends! Like, I wanted to write a book. It helped me connect with myself. But with work, I never got to do it.’

Lisa also explained how cancer changed things for her. She said her stem cell surgery felt like being close to death & being reborn. She also mentioned how her journey helped others after she wrote a blog about what it’s like living with cancer.

‘After my treatment, I once tried wearing a wig for a public event but I found it to be ridiculous. I told myself, 'Remove it' and went all bald. It was all over the headlines but more than that, it was the most liberating thing I'd ever done. But the media wasn't always nice. After chemo, I was a part of a travel show with my hair short. I called it a 'chemo cut.' But the channel replaced me. They wanted a girl with 'long' hair. It was heartbreaking,’ she said.

Three years after recovery, the model actor relapsed. At that time, she was getting married. She went for a 3-week transformation program, meditated, drank juices, ate sprouts, and introspected. She healed internally and within months she beat cancer again and without the stem cell surgery.

Lisa and Jason tied the knot in 2012.

Nine years since, she has done more movies, written a book, raised cancer awareness, had kids, and found the courage to start an art platform.

Lisa talked about her cancer journey in her memoir Close To The Bone, which released in 2019.

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