In commemoration of the National Cancer Awareness Day, Bollywood star Manisha Koirala decided to share photos from her past cancer treatment as a way to encourage those who are still fighting their battles.

The Nepalese actress, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012, wrote on Instagram on 7 November, “On this National Cancer Awareness Day, I want to wish everyone who is going through this arduous journey of cancer treatment, a lot of love and success. I know the journey is tough, but you are tougher than that.”

“I want to pay my respects to those who succumbed to it and celebrate it with those who conquered it. We need to spread the awareness on the disease and all the stories that are filled with hope need to be told and retold. Let’s be kind to ourselves and to the world. I’d pray for everyone’s health and wellbeing. Thank you,” she added.

Among the photos she shared was one of her in the hospital with tubes running across her body, and one of her with her shaved head as she smiled to the camera accompanied by her kids.

Manisha was declared cancer-free in 2015.

Speaking about her experience battling the disease in a past interview, the “Dil Se” actress said, “When I came out at the other end, if there was anything joyful, I would make the most of that moment. I literally started seeing joy in small things like walking on the grass, the breeze on my face, looking out of my bed at the sky and clouds, sunsets and sunrises — I started noticing small things, because tomorrow I didn’t know whether I would be alive to see it.”