Five Latino Stars Who Beat Cancer & Lived To Inspire Others

Their lives were threatened, their dreams were on the verge of breaking and their health statuses were kept in suspense as millions of people across the continent followed their progress. But they won their battles against cancer and lived to inspire others. Latinos Post lists five stars who survived the difficult disease:

Robi Draco Rosa: The Puerto Rican singer-songwriter is one of the last famous Latinos who has triumphed in the battle against cancer. He was diagnosed in April 2011 with an aggressive cancer near his liver that kept him offstage for almost a year. According to the colombian magazine Semana, he was receiving alternative treatments in Houston and then under a traditional one in Santa Monica. Finally, he had his triumphant return in March 2012 with Juan Luis Guerra and Ruben Blades in the 'Coliseo of Puerto Rico'.

Sofia Vergara: The Colombian actress and model was diagnosed with thyroid cancer more than ten years ago during a routine visit with her child to a medical facility, according to the website Peru.com. The pediatrician asked Vergara to also undergo a medical checkup to evaluate her health and that is when the disease was discovered. The actress' thyroid gland was removed in an operation and was prescribed medication to take daily. 

Adamari Lopez: In March 2005, the Puerto Rican actress announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer in a press conference and that Luis Fonsi (her husband back then) was canceling his world tour that year to be at her side, according to the website of  the television network Univision. Her cancer was spotted at a very early stage, so it hadn't spread to other parts of her body. Days after that, she had a successful surgery and a few months later reported that she was in remission. 

Alejandra Guzman: The singer-songwriter battled breast cancer in 2007, one of the top moments of her career. After undergoing several surgeries and receiving treatment, "La Guzman" survived the disease and became a spokeswoman for "Iniciativa ser," a social campaign created by Sony Pictures to raise awareness for breast cancer, according to according to the Peruvian newspaper El Comercio. Her struggles with the disease were also captured in the song "Hasta el final" of her album "Fuerza," released the same year.

Ana Maria Polo: Another latina breast cancer survivor, Polo became a spokesperson for the Susan G. Komen foundation, dedicated to the fight against cancer. From that position, the Cuban television presenter directs campaigns throughout Latin America and the United States to raise awareness about the disease. Polo was diagnosed in the midst of recording a television program, but was able to overcome it after just months of treatment, according to the website Aol Latino.