Olivia Newton-John’s has opened up about her third cancer diagnosis in a candid interview on Channel 9’s 60 Minutes.
The 70-year-old was diagnosed in 2017, after successfully beating the disease in 1992 and 2013.
Speaking to reporter Liz Hayes, Olivia revealed how “lucky” that she has been through it three times and was “still here”.
“I’m living with it,” she said. “Every day is a gift now, particularly now.”
Earlier this year, rumours circulated that the Grease star was close to death, with reports that she closed down with a video to her social media accounts.
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And while the diagnosis is in-curable, she believes death is a “long way away”.
“When you’re given a cancer diagnosis or a scary illness diagnosis, you are suddenly given a possibility of a time limit,” she said.
READ NEXT: How Olivia Newton John isn’t letting cancer affect her mental health
Olivia Newton John talks candidly about her battle with cancer on 60 Minutes.
(Source: Channel 9)The star, who has sold a astonishing 100 million records during her incredible career, is determined not to let statistics get the better of her.
“When you’re given a cancer diagnosis or a scary illness diagnosis, you are suddenly given a possibility of a time limit,” she told the outlet.
“If you believe the statistics, you’re going to make them happen. If somebody tells you, ‘you have six months to live’, very possibly you will – because you believe that.”
“So for me, psychologically, it’s better not to have any ideas of what they expect or what the last person that had what you have lived – so I don’t tune in, it’s just better for me.”
While the illness has spread to her bones, the Xanadu actress refuses to see is as a “demon”.
“It’s something that I’m living with but I don’t see it that way,” she said. “It’s a choice. Everything’s a choice.”
“I see it as something in my body that I’m getting rid of. I don’t talk about a battle or a war. I let it go and tell it to leave and talk to my body and tell it to heal itself.”
WATCH NEXT: Olivia Newton-John opens up about her cancer battle on 60 Minutes. Story continues…
During the interview, Olivia’s daughter Chloe revealed her “anger” over hearing that her mum was fighting yet another round of cancer.
In fact, describing herself as her mum’s “protector”, the 33-year-old follows her mum’s lead when speaking about it.
“We don’t talk about it,” she admitted. “No, we don’t need to talk about it.”
“If she’s having a day where she needs to talk about it, I’m there to listen. I’ll never bring it up unless she wants to.”
And Olivia has the same sentiment when it comes to her only child.
“I know that she gets affected but she’s very strong and she doesn’t really show me that,” she said.
Olivia’s daughter Chloe doesn’t speak about her mum’s diagnosis unless she brings it up.
(Source: Channel 9)During the 45-minute long segment, Professor Jonathan Cebon, from the Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute was asked whether Olivia could “win” against the disease.
“I think the question is ‘What is winning?’ If winning is to remain strong and to face the challenges and to not allow the disease to defeat your spirit, then she’s winning,” he said.
“In terms of the biological effects of the disease, it’s in her bones, that requires medical treatment and she’s using everything she’s got to control the disease and she’s got it under control for now.”
“In the long term, stage four breast cancer’s not something we see as a curable disease.”
Professor Jonathan Cebon, from the Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute.
(Source: Channel 9)In the meantime, Olivia is fighting her diagnosis with cannabis grown by her husband, John Easterling.
Without this substance, the actress described “months and months of excruciating, sleep-depriving, crying out loud pain”.
“When I broke my sacrum, I was on morphine because the pain was intense,” she revealed.
“I was terrified of starting it because I know it’s a hard thing to ween off but I am now off it and I weened myself off it with cannabis.”
The four-time Grammy winner was first treated for breast cancer in 1992 at the age of 43.
You can watch the full 60 Minutes interview HERE.
