Longtime friends Elton John, 72, and Olivia Newton-John, 71, both cancer survivors, continue to support each other through their journeys. The pair reunited on Saturday before John’s Melbourne concert, looking thrilled to be in each other’s company.
View this post on InstagramRead More Before the show started, John, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017, gave a shoutout from the stage to the beloved “Grease” star, who has stage 4 breast cancer:“I’m a fan and I respect and love you so much, and it was great to see you before the show, looking as good as you do. Bless you forever,” the Daily Mail reported.
Newton-John also posted the photograph of the two before the concert, writing, “So wonderful to see my brilliant, longtime friend @eltonjohn at his amazing Melbourne concert. Thank you matey.”
The Duo Share an Honor
John and Newton-John were among those recognized by Queen Elizabeth with the esteemed New Year's Honours List this year, in part for the phenomenal work they’ve done bringing awareness to cancer.
I'm humbled and honoured to be among such highly esteemed company in receiving the Companion of Honour.
2019 has turned out to be a truly wonderful year for me and I feel extraordinarily blessed.
Elton xx pic.twitter.com/iam3EItGYH
Elton John (@eltonofficial) December 27, 2019
Newton-John was raised in Australia but born in England. She' was made a dame for her "services to charity, cancer research and entertainment," according to CNN.Olivia Newton-John’s Cancer Journey
Newton-John, first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, is now in treatment for her third bout of the disease. In an interview earlier this year, the eternally positive and inspirational Newton-John told SurvivorNet that she has “adjusted to living with cancer,” and she is using her experience to advocate and share advice with others in similar positions.
The actress’ cancer — which she has treated with a combination of traditional medicine and holistic methods like herbal supplements and medical marijuana — is what led her to found the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre in Australia. The center focuses on treating the whole person going through the cancer journey.
The actress and singer recently auctioned off some personal items — including the iconic black leather jacket and skin-tight pants from “Grease” — to raise money for the center.
Elton John’s Cancer Journey
John disclosed in his memoir, “Me,” that despite the diagnosis, he felt fortunate that he caught his prostate cancer early. Still, many men deal with side effects after prostate cancer surgery, such as sexual or bladder control issues — and John got candid about how he was one of those men.
Speaking to BBC One earlier this year, John, helping to remove the shame from cancer, revealed that at a Las Vegas concert two weeks after getting surgery, he had to wear a diaper due to side effects.
"If only they knew at that moment I was pissing myself," John said of his post-surgery performance during the interview.
John also writes in his memoir that he opted for surgery to treat his prostate cancer over a rigorous course of radiation treatments.
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