Culture September 13, 2022

Lily Tomlin calls pal Jane Fonda 'indomitable' amid cancer battle

WATCH: Jane Fonda begins chemotherapy

Lily Tomlin is speaking out about "Grace and Frankie" co-star Jane Fonda's recent cancer diagnosis.

Tomlin, 83, spoke to People at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival and praised her friend and fellow actress as "indomitable."

MORE: Jane Fonda announces cancer diagnosis, says she's started chemotherapy

"She's very forthright and talkative about what's going on with her in all respects," Tomlin said. "First thing, she says, 'Don't worry, it's really treatable. It's one of the most treatable forms that you could possibly have, so I'm really lucky in that regard.' "

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Tomlin said Fonda, 84, didn't focus on her heath news for long before asking her longtime pal if she was coming to her next fundraiser. "That's her main objective," Tomlin said, laughing.

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images, FILE
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin attend the Los Angeles Special FYC Event For Netflix's "Grace And Frankie" in Hollywood, Calif., April 23, 2022.

Fonda announced on Sept. 2 that she had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, explaining in an Instagram post that she felt "very lucky" because it was "very treatable."

MORE: Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin open up on 'Grace and Frankie' finale: 'I'm gonna miss her everyday'

She also revealed she had started a six-month round of chemotherapy to fight the disease and was "handling the treatments quite well," promising fans she wouldn't let anything interfere with her climate activism.

"Cancer is a teacher and I'm paying attention to the lessons it holds for me," Fonda wrote, adding that it had shown her the importance of "growing and deepening one's community so that we are not alone."