Olivia Newton-John opens up on health battle

Fans all over the world drew a collective gasp back in January, when rumours swirled that Olivia Newton-John was ‘clinging to life’, but now the star has spoken out about just how ‘stupid’ that whole thing was.

In an interview with People magazine, the 70-year-old Grease star – who is battling breast cancer for the third time – said she was actually recovering from a ‘cancer-induced fractured pelvis’, which was diagnosed after she ‘felt severe pain’ during a cancer walk in Melbourne in aid of her charity.

Death rumours

However, rumours at the time claimed Olivia’s health had rapidly deteriorated, and she was ‘clinging on to life’ so she could see her daughter Chloe Lattanzi get married in early 2019.

In response, the 70-year-old recorded a video of herself which she shared on her official Facebook page, in which she assured fans she was ‘doing great’.

“Happy New Year everyone. This is Olivia Newton-John and I just want to say that the rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated to quote a very famous quote,” she said in the piece-to-camera.

“And I’m doing great and I want to wish all of you the happiest, healthiest 2019 that’s possible.

“Thank you all for your wonderful love and support, for me and my Olivia Newton-John cancer wellness centre in Melbourne, Australia. Thankyou so much, Happy New Year.”

Health battle

Back in September 2018, the star told Sunday Night she had decided to treat this cancer with ‘modern’ medicines and natural remedies, as well as cutting out sugar completely and taking cannabis oil for the pain.

She said the treatment was going ‘really well’ and she’s optimistic for the future.

Speaking about cannabis oil, Olivia said she’s ‘lucky’ she lives in California, a state where it’s legal to grow a certain amount of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

“In California it’s legal to grow a certain amount of plants for your own medicinal purposes. So he [her husband] makes me tinctures. It’s hard to say, they help with pain,” Olivia said.

“My dream is that, in Australia soon, it will be available to all the cancer patients and people going through cancer that causes pain.”

While the star put on a brave face during the interview, she revealed she does have her moments of despair, but just wouldn’t be having them in front of the camera.

“There are moments. I’m human. So if I allow myself to go there, I could easily create that, you know, big fear,” she said.

Third cancer diagnosis

Olivia’s third cancer diagnosis came after she was first treated for the disease back in 1992, after finding a lump on her right breast.

The actress has previously spoken about the ‘shock’ of the diagnosis, which came on the same weekend that her beloved father passed away from cancer.

She underwent a partial mastectomy and six months of treatment, including herbal formulas, meditation and focus on her diet and fitness, before getting the all clear.

However, there was more heartache for the star when she was diagnosed with cancer in her shoulder in 2013, after she was involved in a minor car accident.

It came just months her sister, Rona, passed away from brain cancer.

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