Actor and model Rozlyn Khan set out to become stronger in 2022, but fate had other ideas as she received a cancer diagnosis on November 9. After completing her third chemotherapy treatment, the star said in an interview, "I feel a bit tired but that's part of the situation I am in right now."
Rozlyn is fighting stage 4 cancer. She stated that the cancer has now spread to her backbone through lymph nodes. She recalls, “I wanted to be vocal after I was diagnosed with cancer. This is why I posted on social media. There’s a lot of stigma in India. I lost my hair after the third chemo session. The reaction was very different.”
Rozlyn said she comes across mean comments on her Instagram posts. “‘Cancer is your karma. This must be your pichle Janam k paap (you are paying for your past deeds)'. I have gone through such comments on my posts recently. We have to make people aware that it’s a disease. Don’t relate it to religion or age-old thinking. We talk about Covid-19, but not cancer. People still think it’s a transferrable disease.”
“If we measure a woman’s identity, and value with the length of her hair then what kind of a society do we belong to? We are so concerned about the shape of a woman’s body or her hair. Nobody deserves cancer.”
Rozlyn admits her cancer diagnosis was hard to take in initially. “When I met the doctor he openly told me I was going to lose my hair. I cried. But I have to go through it. There‘s no way out.” She says she will stay be bald for 6-7 months. It is because the process targets the body's healthy cells, including nails and hair. But, Rozlyn refuses to hide. “If I have to keep hiding my hair, it’s difficult for me. I have seen a lot of celebrities who don’t post about their disease on Instagram until they are out of the situation.”
“I am also not sure whether I am going to be out of it or not. The doctor has assured me with cancer you can still have a quality life. We have a lot of treatments developed in India. It isn’t a death warrant. But you need to check it on time, I was a little late because I was confident about my body.”
Rozlyn urges women battling cancer to not hide their head under scarves or caps. “You will see there are so many places to donate hair for cancer patients. There are chemo caps available. Why do you need them in India only?”
Rozlyn also shared that does feel the need to hide her condition. She says she prefers not to wear wigs or caps. She has also put her film work on hold. Currently, she is taking on only brand endorsements. Concluding the interview, she said she tries to find the silver lining in the little things around her.
