Farrah Fawcett will always be remembered as one of the original Charlie’s Angels and for that iconic poster that graced millions of walls all over the world. But now Fawcett has taken on a new, far more important role, that of a warrior against the ravages of cancer.

On May 15, Fawcett’s video journal documenting her nearly three-year journey through a medical maze of cancer treatment aired on NBC. The two-hour special, which Fawcett executive produced, is brutally honest, and spares no detail.  Fawcett refuses to have the camera turned off even during the most uncomfortable moments. At one point, she is shown lying on her side, vomiting, and while Alana Stewart, who taped most of the footage, doesn’t want to keep the camera rolling, Fawcett wants people to see “what cancer looks like.”

Fawcett’s journey to find a cure takes her to Germany where she undergoes surgery to remove the primary tumor, laser surgery to destroy tumors in her liver, and other treatment not available in the U.S. She develops a bond with her German treatment team and is filmed celebrating a birthday with them, an uplifting moment.

Particularly poignant is the point at which Fawcett finally loses her hair. The doctors who treated her explain that over the course of her treatment, they always opted for methods that would be less likely to result in the destruction of her hair. But ultimately, when there was no other option, she agreed to take this final step. When her hair starts to fall out, she takes charge, shaving all but her bangs. She reveals her partially bald head to the camera and the doctor, with the same aplomb she demonstrates throughout the documentary.

Another heartbreaking scene comes when her son Redmond is released from jail for a three-hour visit with his now-dying mother. A now bed-ridden Fawcett may or may not be aware of his presence, but the impact on the viewer is powerful. The young man, with his feet shackled, crawls onto her bed, and utters, “Mommy.” Ryan O’Neal, Redmond’s father and Fawcett’s longtime love, tells the camera this may be the last time Redmond sees his mother alive.

O’Neal offers commentary throughout the documentary, and at times, appears nearly overcome with grief. Unlike Fawcett, who maintains incredible positivity throughout, O’Neal does not deny the inevitability of her ultimate death. Clearly he is not ready, and yet, having gone through this experience with her, he says he loves her more now than ever.

Despite the anguish, and there is much of that, there are some moments of inspiration that shine through the tears. Farrah’s insight into her disease and her incredible faith are truly uplifting. She wonders if there will be rain in heaven and hopes that as an angel, she’ll be able to swoop down and “dip her wings” in the rain just once. She revels in the small things that we so often overlook. Fawcett has a depth of soul that is remarkable given the circumstances. Over and over she repeats the mantra, “I want my life back.”

Some good has already come from Fawcett’s agony. After years of being fodder for the tabloids, Fawcett turns the tables. When she learns that her cancer has returned once again, she reveals that the only other person who know beside herself was the doctor who gave her the news. Despite the secrecy, within days, the National Enquirer had the headline “Farrah’s Cancer Returns” splashed across the front page.

Because no one else knew, authorities were able to trace computer access to her records back to an employee who was then arrested. Fawcett’s legacy includes a new law in California making it illegal for a hospital employee to release patient information to the press.

“Farrah’s Story” is not easy to watch, and for some, may seem inappropriate. But for millions of cancer patients and cancer survivors, her honesty and courage has already served as inspiration. Because of her honesty, anal cancer has lost some of its stigma and hopefully, people with symptoms will seek treatment early for this form of cancer, which if caught early is completely treatable. Perhaps this is the greatest gift Farrah Fawcett will leave behind, sparing others from the agony she has been forced to endure.