Olivia Newton-John slams rumors about her health, says she's 'doing great' as she battles cancer a third time
It was back in January that Olivia Newton-John was forced to address vicious rumors about her health. And on Monday, the 70-year-old star recalled how in hindsight, it was rather "strange" to read reports that she was dying, considering that she's battling stage four breast cancer.
Speaking on the Today show, the Hollywood icon said she's doing "great" and is optimistic about her recovery. "It's a very strange feeling to read that you're dead," she said of the rumors, which were started by Radar Online. "So I thought well I've got to make light of this because this is just going to continue on and get worse and worse so that's when I did the video saying the reports of my death were greatly exaggerated..."
The 'Grease' star continued, "I'm still here and doing great. I'm doing really well. In fact, I just had some tests done and I'm doing great thank you... My dream is that we'll see an end to cancer in my lifetime." This comes after earlier this year, the star had to furiously dispute claims that she was on her deathbed.
"I just want to say that the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated!" the star, who was diagnosed with breast cancer for a third time in May 2017, said in a Facebook video. "I am doing great! I want to wish you all the happiest and healthiest 2019 that is possible. Thank you all for your incredible love and support."
The Australian actress and singer also secretly battled breast cancer for a second time back in 2013 and announced her devastating cancer diagnosis in 2017 after she was forced to postpone her tour dates in Canada and the US. Doctors at the time believed that her back pain was due to sciatica and later confirmed that her breast cancer had metastasized to her sacrum as a tumor was found at the base of her spine.
Olivia was first treated for breast cancer in 1992, at the age of 43. She underwent a partial mastectomy, chemotherapy and breast reconstruction. In 2013, the same year she secretly battled cancer for a second time, she tragically lost her sister Rona Newton-John to brain cancer.
Olivia also spoke of why she made the decision to keep the news of the diagnosis private, instead of sharing with her well-wishers around the world previously. The star said that she wanted to avoid "speculation". She elaborated: "I just decided I wanted to go through it myself. And I did a lot of natural healing and a lot of herbs that my husband [John Easterling] made for me."
She continued, "A lot of people see it as a fight, and [however] you choose to see it, that’s your prerogative. … I see it as part of my mission." However, she has resorted to natural treatment methods. "A lot of cannabis, my husband grows for me. In California, it's legal to grow a certain amount of plants for your own medicinal purposes," she noted. "He makes me tinctures… and they help with pain, they help with sleep. So, I’m very lucky that I live in a state where it's legal and that I have a husband that is a plant medicine man."
