'I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 25' How I Met Your Mother star Cobie Smulders reveals secret
Cobie Smulders has battled ovarian cancer.
The former How I Met Your Mother star was diagnosed with the potentially-fatal disease when she was just 25-years-old and secretly underwent numerous surgeries in the two years that followed.
The 33-year-old opened up about her battle in the May issue of Women's Health Magazine, saying: 'I had tumors on both ovaries, and the cancer had spread into my lymph nodes and surrounding tissues.'
Cobie, who wed husband Taran Killam in 2012, gave birth to two children following her diagnosis, beginning with five-year-old daughter Shaelyn at age 27.
The star, who also has a three-month-old son, admits she doesn't ever think she'll feel free of the disease.
However, she wants to use her experiences in a positive way, and help raise awareness of ovarian cancer - which killed around 14,000 women last year.
'I don't think I'll ever feel like I'm cancer-free,' The Avengers actress shared. 'Now that I'm five years out, I'm trying to think of it as a positive thing and what can I learn from it. And if I can create more awareness, I'll do it.'
Cobie has posed topless for the cover of the publication, and agreed to do so to prove how confident she is about her body, rather than to appear sexy.
She said: 'It was my first topless photo shoot where I wasn't trying to appear 'sexy', which was interesting.'
'Because it's a women's magazine, I feel like being topless is more about being confident and about being happy with your body rather than trying to excite somebody else. That's what this cover was more about.'
The brunette beauty also took time in the issue to share her advice for young people coming into show-business.
She told the publication: 'Just chill the F out, when you're young, you're so worried. I think I was in such a rush to grow up.'
'I think it's also the film industry; you're always trying to be established and trying get to the next level,' she continued.
'I feel like I should've just chilled out, gone back to college for four years and just hung out. Or traveled around the world or something. Just not work so hard.'
'But then, it also got me to where I am today, so it's a double-edged sword. But I think I could've probably mellowed out more.'
The actress continues to stay busy, and will soon be reprising her role as Maria Hill on the big screen for Avengers: Age of Ultron.
'I love doing these films. I love working with all of the characters. They have just such amazing people coming in and doing these roles now,' Cobie told the magazine.
Avengers: Age of Ultron hits movie theaters on May 1.
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