In May of 2017, it was announced that Olivia Newton-John's breast cancer had returned.
Olivia Newton-John is reluctantly postponing her June U.S. and Canadian concert tour dates. The back pain that initially caused her to postpone the first half of her concert tour, has turned out to be breast cancer that has metastasized to the sacrum.In addition to natural wellness therapies, Olivia will complete a short course of photon radiation therapy and is confident she will be back later in the year, better than ever, to celebrate her shows.
"I decided on my direction of therapies after consultation with my doctors and natural therapists and the medical team at my Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia,” says Olivia Newton-John.
There will be no interview requests accepted at this time as Olivia’s focus is on her treatment and healing.
Since then, people have been sending the singer and Grease star well wishes as she battles through cancer, which she was originally diagnosed with in 1992. Her battle has been tough, and at one point things looked like they were taking a turn for the worst. However, in a new interview with Fox, Newton-John opened up about her diagnosis and what has been helping her get through treatment.
"Great — I’m doing great," Newton-John said. "Last year in September I was bedbound. I was lucky enough to be in my own hospital in Melbourne. I spent my 70th birthday at my wellness center. It couldn’t have been more wonderful. My nieces and nephews were there, my best friend was there. It was really quite beautiful. And I’m so proud of the center so it’s a great honor to raise funds for it."
The center she's referring to is the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre near her hometown of Melbourne, Australia. Newton-John is hosting an auction to raise funds for the treatment center. When asked if she was currently in remission, the singer had an interesting answer.
"I don’t call it remission — I just say I’m living with it," she said. "I’m living with it very well. To think that you could get rid of every single cell is not really a reality at this point. But I’m feeling great. Things are shrinking. I’m taking a lot of herbs because my husband worked in the Amazon and he’s incredibly knowledgable."
Newton-John credited a controversial alternative medicine for her recovery.
"And I use cannabis extracts, which has helped me incredibly. They’ve helped me ween off morphine, which I was using for my [cancer-induced pelvis fracture] because I was in a lot of pain. Cannabis will not kill you but these opiates will. I’m an advocate of it, very much so."
It was excruciating pain that finally let Newton-John know something was wrong.
"The last time? I was in incredible pain," she said. "I thought it was sciatic for a very long time… It got much, much worse and I just couldn’t walk. I had a break, which I discovered through some X-rays. But pain. Pain really because it’s in my bones. That’s how I knew."
But despite all of her struggles both personally and professionally, Olivia Newton-John says staying positive is all part of plan.
If things were always the same, you wouldn’t have the drive to improve, to grow, to do new things. Sure, I’ve had my share of disappointment and flops — but that’s all part of it. You just keep going.That’s really what success is about. You keep on going despite the setbacks and flops. And I enjoyed the ride. The whole thing was great. At this point? I’m not sure if I want to [tour] anymore. This has really been the first time where I just really sat down. And I had to sit down — my body forced me to sit down.
But that’s OK. Because it’s allowed me to look at my life and see where I wanted to go. And I just can’t keep on going on that treadmill forever like I was.
We can all take words of encouragement from Olivia Newton-John. Just because things aren't going exactly how you thought they would, that doesn't mean you get to give up.
