Olivia Newton-John, Cancer Thriver, Shares Exciting News
- Olivia Newton-John, 73, is battling breast cancer and recently shared some exciting career news with fans about a special release of one of her hit songs.
- The Grease star was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992.
- To treat her cancer, she had chemotherapy and a partial mastectomy (surgical removal of cancerous breast tissue).
And in a new post on Instagram, she shares with fans some exciting news. The Grease star writes, “It’s finally here! The Physical: 40th Anniversary Collector’s Edition vinyl is now available for purchase in four different lovely colors. Grab yours before they’re gone!”
Read MoreView this post on InstagramONJ’s Cancer Story: A Thriver’s Journey
Newton-John currently has advanced-stage breast cancer, but that is not dampening her spirits. She is a thriver and a survivor. The Aussie singer was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. To treat her cancer, she had chemotherapy and a partial mastectomy (surgical removal of cancerous breast tissue). In 2017, Newton-John's cancer returned and it had spread to other parts of her body, so she had radiation therapy to treat it.
A mastectomy is the removal of the entire breast during surgery. There are different factors to weigh when considering a mastectomy; chief among them is whether breast-conserving surgery (or, a lumpectomy) is possible.
In an earlier interview, Dr. Ann Partridge, an oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, explains the process for determining whether or not a woman should have a mastectomy to treat her breast cancer. The doctor says, "So when I talk to a woman who comes to me and she has breast cancer, I evaluate what the standard options for treatment for her are, which typically include cutting out the cancer which is either a lumpectomy if you can get it all with just a little scooping around of the area that's abnormal or a mastectomy for some women meaning taking the full breast because sometimes these lesions can be very extensive in the breast."
"And I'll talk to a woman about that and I'll say these are two main options or the big fork in the road," she says.
When Should You Consider a Mastectomy?
Focusing on the Good Through Cancer
Despite her roller-coaster ride with the disease, clearly, Newton-John is taking every moment to appreciate precious moments like her new collector’s edition release of “Let’s Get Physical.”
She's not the only cancer patient and survivor to take this approach of focusing on the good and celebrating joyful moments. Two-time survivor Joel Naftelberg, who overcame both liver and pancreatic cancer, says his love of dancing and music helped him find pockets of joy during his journey.
“I have found music and rock and roll to be transformational," Joel tells SurvivorNet in an earlier interview. "[It] doesn't necessarily solve anything, but it does let us dance on our problems for at least an hour or two. Nothing better on a Friday afternoon than to hang with your friends and listen to beautiful music."
SurvivorNet reporter Shelby Black contributed to this article.
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