Elissa breaks taboo with clip announcing cancer fight

SEE - August 11th: A video clip released on Twitter by Lebanese singer Elissa was a real surprise as she chose to share a 'bad news', often considered a taboo, with her fans and millions of followers on social media.

"You are the reason I am strong and healthy ... you are my strength. And this story is a thank you," she posted, along with the song uploaded on YouTube entitled: "For all those who love me."

The video clip begins with a woman inside an MRI machine and someone saying 'It's an early stage of breast cancer,' and goes on to show the 45-year-old singer in various situations at a hospital, with doctors and surrounded by friends. It features a voiceover of Elissa speaking about her battle.

The response was overwhelming from fans, celebrities and politicians across the Arab world who posted, tweeted and retweeted messages of support. The video clip has garnered more than seven million views from fans and supporters since it was posted on Tuesday, AP reported.

Elissa was diagnosed with the illness in December 2017 but kept it secret, even after she collapsed on stage during a live performance in Dubai in February this year. She later tweeted to her fans that she was healthy, adding: "Nothing serious don't worry!"

"I do my radiotherapy session, I go to the studio, I finish another session, I rest for two hours and go to the studio again," Elissa says in the video clip, describing how she kept up her work during her treatment.

The song has a feel-good catchy tune with a refrain that says: "Yalla, yalla yalla (come on!), let's sing and be happy, let's make up for time lost, come on let's live," alternating between scenes at a hospital and Elissa singing and dancing on stage.

Elissa ended the video with the words: "I've recovered. I've beaten the illness, and I won. ... Early detection of breast cancer can save your life. Don't ignore it, face it. ... Do it not only for yourself, but for your loved ones."