Kathy Bates, two time cancer survivor, spokesperson and supporter of the American Cancer Society and Lymphatic Education & Research Network, leading actress in over 20 great films and TV shows portraying a strong women making sure nobody blinks an eye to miss her appearance is a true inspiration and example of an empowered woman.

In 2003 Bates, whose credits include American Horror Story, On the Basis of Sex,  and Misery, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. To avoid this defining who she was she and her manager kept her battle quietly like a badass and she is now in complete full remission.

Bates decided to go public so she can guide and inform all women to have check-ups regularly.

She told EveryDayHealth, “I don’t think people like to talk about it or men like to hear about it,” she says. “If I had to go through it again, I wouldn’t be so private.”

Nine years after her ovarian cancer, Bates felt like her life was going downhill after discovering she has stage II breast cancer. Bates told Gina Shaw (a writer for WebMD) that both her mother, niece and aunt had breast cancer and her aunt had lost her life to the cancer. Bates decided to have a double mastectomy; the surgery also required the removal of 19 lymph nodes resulting in a post-cancer diagnosis of Lymphedema.

Lymphedema is an incurable condition that causes swelling in the body’s tissue. The condition develops as a result of the lymphatic system failing to work properly and impacts up to 30 percent of all women who have undergone breast cancer surgery. It is estimated that 170 million people worldwide are living with lymphoedema according to The Lymphatic Education & Research Network.

Bates is a strong 70 year old women who inspires us all. She’s a two-time cancer survivor and now lives with a lifelong battle of a condition due to her breast cancer. She continues to work, continues to better her health and she does not let her cancer define who she is.

At 70 she is glowing and has recently lost 60-lbs to help her lymphedema, her work is her passion and it shows. Through all her trauma she has come out strong and stands tall for others who can’t, she uses her platform to reach out and inform women to be aware of their bodies and their health.

“I feel I have to do something about it. If I can use my celebrity for something real, then that’s what I want to do,” she told the American Association for Cancer Research.