Laila Wasti and Angeline Malik shared their struggles of fighting the last stages of cancer.
In an interview with the local media, both actresses talked about the diagnosis, the treatments and the strong will they had to develop to fight the disease.
Laila Wasti said that she was in America when she collapsed during a visit to a community hospital. They immediately transferred her via helicopter to Johns Hopkins Hospital and told her that she only has 48 hours to live as she has terminal-stage blood cancer. She claimed that she was alone in the hospital and even had to sign the consent forms herself, but she was grateful that she was completely in her senses and able to walk, write and hear. She said that she had a lot of faith and she knew that she would turn out to be completely fine.
Wasti continued that she had to go through a very long process of surgeries and medication, including steroids, which were being administered to save her life. Those steroids weakened her bones so much that her hip and a knee had to be replaced. She said she has a firm belief that Allah does what is best for us. She was grateful for everything she had, and the trials our prophets went through gave her the will to fight.
Angeline said that she was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer last year in December. She urged all the women not to take life for granted and get themselves regularly checked, as ovarian cancer is a silent killer and does not show any symptoms. She said that she felt health,y but her intuition told her otherwise. Coming back from a vacation, she took blood tests, and the results confirmed the hunch. She said that she had a gene that causes cancer in her family and has lost a number of close family members to the deadly disease.
Malik said that she still undergoes screening and she is now cancer-free after a massive surgery and chemotherapy. Medications are also still ongoing.
Angeline said that someone suffering from cancer should never think of themselves as ill and get bedridden. It is a very wrong thing to do as it eats up all of the will one has. She explained that it depends more on how it is fought mentally, if you are strong and do not give in it will not spread.
Angeline Malik is a Pakistani director, actor, producer, model, television host, and activist. She was first seen in the PTV series Mystery Theatre in 2002 and later in the drama serial Lahasil in 2005.
Laila Wasti is also a Pakistani actress and director who set foot in the drama scene with the 1996 drama Begum Haveli. She has worked in many hits like Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi, Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay, and Ishq E Laa.