When did the battle start?
In 2018, the Bollywood veteran was diagnosed with a form of cancer after which he went to New York for the treatment. There was not much information about the exact details of the treatment but the family did mention going through the most difficult times.
The brave actor did disclose that he was undergoing a treatment and also mentioned about "marrow" problems, according to media reports. In one of his interviews in Mumbai Mirror in 2019 the actor reassured everyone that the cancer is in remission. He said, “I just need a few more weeks before I return home. Once in a year or a year and -a-half I have to come back for check-ups."
However, the family clarified on Thursday that the actor was undergoing treatment for Leukemia.
Ranbir and Riddhima had been travelling to the USA often to keep a check on the ailing actor.
What is the disease?
In medical terms, Leukemia is cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, which includes the bone marrow as well as the lymphatic system. There are several types of leukemia, and it can also affect kids, however, majorly adults are found to be affected by this disease.
If you refer to Cancer.org, most often, AML develops from cells that would turn into white blood cells (other than lymphocytes), but sometimes AML develops in other types of blood-forming cells.
In the start of this year again, Rishi Kapoor experienced some breathing difficulties and was taken to a hospital in Delhi where he was placed under intensive care of specialist doctors. At that time it was suspected that the 67-year-old actor had a possible pneumonia infection.
Rishi Kapoor had also addressed rumours of his cancer relapsing and shared on Twitter, “I have been overwhelmed by all your concern about my health.Thank you. I have been filming in Delhi past 18 days and because of the Pollution and my low count of neutrophils, I caught an infection whereby I had to be hospitalized. I was running a slight fever and on investigation,Dr.s found a patch which could have lead to pneumonia,was detected and is being cured. People seem to have assumed a lot different. I put to rest all those stories and look forward to entertain and love you.”
The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last. He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents.