Olivia Newton-John’s husband declares war on her cancer
Olivia Newton-John remains positive despite revealing last month that her breast cancer had returned and spread to her back.
The 68-year-old was forced to postpone her US and Canadian concert tour dates this month but said in a statement to People magazine that her husband John Easterling was looking after her and she was optimistic about her ongoing health battle.
“I’m totally confident that my new journey will have a positive success story to inspire others!” the note read.
“I am really grateful for and touched by the worldwide outpouring of love and concern. Thank you. I am feeling good and enjoying total support from my family and friends, along with a team of wellness and medical practitioners both here in the US and at my Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia.”
She ended the note with: “Love and light, Olivia.”
The Grease star’s close friend Leeza Gibbons said: “She’s not naive and doesn’t get immobilised. She finds light in the darkest corners and just always has.”
Newton-John’s husband of nine years told the magazine the pair shared an “unshakable” belief that she would have a wonderful success story in her fight against cancer.
“We’re not trying to be positive,” Easterling said.
“We have an absolute knowingness that we can turn this around.”
The couple will celebrate nine years of marriage this week.
According to People, the Let’s Get Physical singer is “currently undergoing a short course of photon radiation therapy supplemented with other natural wellness therapies”.
Newton-John has reportedly been spending time at her Southern California ranch and Easterling said his wife’s pain had gone from a level eight to “about a two”.
“I am encouraging her to tune out everything and focus on herself,” he said.
The star has been in treatment for a week but friends are already predicting she will return to the stage by summer.
“If anybody can power through this with amazing determination, it’s Olivia,” her friend Beth Nielsen Chapman said.
This is the second time Newton-John has battled the deadly disease – she was first treated in 1992 at the age of 43.
She underwent a partial mastectomy, chemotherapy and breast reconstruction.
A statement on her social media read: “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.”
The singer herself also posted to Facebook: “I have had a long running issue with sciatica and I need to take this time to rest and deal with this very painful condition. My husband John is taking great care of me and I want to thank all my family, friends and fans for their concern, love, support and good wishes. I look forward to returning to performing soon!”
Read more: Olivia Newton-John to use controversial alternative cancer therapy
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