Olivia has begun the toughest fight of her life
Translation from Dutch:
Doctor Discovered A Lump In Her Breast During Routine Check-Up.
Her voice trembled and she let out a stifled sob as she spoke over the phone. Olivia Newton-John (43) is in hospital being treated for breast cancer. “I draw strength from the thought that millions of brave women around the world are going through the same thing. And I hope I can be as good an example to them as they were to me.”
A few weeks ago, singer/film star Olivia Newton-John was diagnosed with a lump in one of her breasts. It happened during her routine six-monthly checkup at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Of course, “the world ended a little” when the doctor had to tell her he’d found a tumor.
She’s only 43, has a six-year-old daughter, and a husband she loves. And when a doctor has to tell you something so terrible, happiness suddenly isn’t so self-evident anymore. When the initial hospital examination revealed it to be a malignant tumor, Olivia called friends and family herself to share the devastating news. Later, she decided that the world outside her inner circle also deserved to know what was happening with her. And she wanted to do so in her own words.
Just before she was to go to the hospital for the major surgery and further treatment, Olivia said: “Despite everything, I’m still a little lucky. Because I regularly undergo checkups, the disease was discovered in my case at a very early stage. That’s why the doctors give me every hope that I will recover completely. In that respect, I want to be an example to other women. If you do undergo regular checkups, the chance of recovery is much greater. And I will fight as hard as I can to become completely better again.”
Tragic events
The dramatic discovery of Olivia’s illness unfolds against the backdrop of a larger number of tragic events that have unfolded in her life in recent years.
Olivia has a six-year-old daughter, Chloe. She and her husband, Matt Lattanza, 11 years younger, deeply desired a brother or sister for their only child. But Olivia’s pregnancies twice ended in miscarriage. And her gynaecologist had to prepare her for the fact that her chances of becoming a mother for a second time were all but gone. Olivia could barely process the news and more or less shut herself away in her Malibu home.
Her business was also struggling at the time. She had retired from showbiz to establish a global chain of children’s clothing boutiques. She invested a large portion of the fortune she had earned as a singer and film star in the venture. But no matter how hard she worked, success eluded her, and eventually the entire enterprise collapsed.
Olivia became depressed over this financial debacle, especially as many of the people who had embarked on this business venture with her accused her of squandering their last savings on false promises.
The tide seemed to have turned dramatically for the singer, born in Cambridge, England, but raised in Australia, who, with John Travolta, made a splash in the film “Grease.” She became world-famous overnight, and her records sold millions.
Her fame as a film star and singer was long at odds with her personal happiness. Her love affair with Shadow guitarist Bruce Welch ended, and Cliff Richard, her friend of 21 years, had to pull her out of a deep slump. Incidentally, the English singer was one of the first to hear from Olivia herself that she was seriously ill.
"Livvie can take a beating."
But my “Livvie” (as Cliff affectionately calls her) can take a beating. She’s got grit and character. And I’m sure she’ll overcome her illness, according to Cliff Richard.
The singer declined to comment on the increasingly persistent rumor that the marriage between Olivia and her much younger husband is on the rocks. Not only is the age difference reportedly taking its toll, but the miscarriages and business setbacks have reportedly put such a strain on their marriage that divorce has already been discussed between Olivia and Matt Lattanzi (a singer of Italian descent).
This last point is also believed to have prompted Olivia to make her comeback. She has released a new album, “Back to the Basics”, and was scheduled to begin a US tour on August 6th to promote it. But all her appointments for the coming months have been canceled.
The extent of her surgery is not yet known. It’s also unclear whether she will need radiation or possibly chemotherapy. Olivia herself is hopeful that the doctors will be able to preserve her breast, because she caught it so early.
Her husband, Matt, has moved into the hospital with their daughter to support her. According to friends, he was completely devastated when he heard the bad news. “He finally seemed to realize how much he still loves her,” they say.
And perhaps Olivia’s illness will bring some good after all. Perhaps it will bring Matt and Olivia close enough to save their marriage.