Living it up
An inspiring picture of health and vitality, Olivia Newton-John talks exclusively to Glow about battling breast cancer and seeing life from a whole new perspective.
One of the best things about life is some of the inspirational people you encounter along the way icons that give hope to others and encourage one and all to aim for their dreams and to overcome adversity.
Olivia Newton-John is one such inspirational Australian.
Fresh-faced and glowing with vitality, the 55-year-old songstress radiates health and happiness. She enjoys an enviable lifestyle based in Los Angeles, living in her stunning Malibu home with long-time love, 48-year-old cameraman Patrick McDermott, and frequently returning home to Australia.
Olivia has reached a satisfying point in her life, most recently celebrating the successful relaunch of her Koala Blue brand with a fine selection of wines, a project she is sharing with her great friend Pat Farrar. She also has a beautiful daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, a 19-year-old singer who is following in her famous Mum’s footsteps and is set to make her own mark on the international music scene with a prospective record deal.
But Olivia’s life has not been without challenges - her well-documented experience with breast cancer and subsequent survival of the illness stands as testament to her strength of character.
This year marks her 12th year of being free from cancer, although she’s the first to admit that finding the courage to fight the illness after diagnosis was difficult.
“I think when you are faced with a frightening diagnosis like cancer, you find strength that you never knew you had,” Olivia explains.
“Not only do I love life but I wanted to be here for my daughter, and that thought alone was enough!”
It’s ironic that positive aspects of life emerge when you are faced with such an illness, and for some people reflecting on the experience often reveals that it has taught them to recognise the important priorities in life.
“They say that without pain we don’t grow I know this to be true,” says Olivia. “I wouldn’t wish cancer on anyone, but getting through this battle made me grow in so many ways. It was a gift, though that may sound strange to someone who hasn’t faced a life-threatening disease.”
Healthy living is essential to Olivia’s daily routine, and it’s not surprising that her trim figure is the result of conscientious exercise, which she admits to being devoted to.
“I love to exercise, luckily for me. I don’t feel healthy if I don’t exercise every day, so I play tennis, hike, walk my dog, do Pilates and use weights for my bones. I eat lots of vegetables and fruit, and chicken, fish and meat too when my body calls for it,” she adds.
But her commitment to health goes way beyond looking after her own needs. Olivia has helped to create a cancer centre in Australia in an attempt to battle the disease that has plagued her life. Because she is such a positive life force, the star was determined to publicise awareness of breast cancer and is equally determined to play her part in trying to find a cure.
As every modern-day women knows, the key to defeating the illness is to spot the signs in the early stages. Olivia promotes the Liv Kit, a comprehensive breast cancer self-evaluation kit, and is happy to represent a symbol of hope to other sufferers.
“When I had breast cancer, I met a lady who had been free of it for 20 years. It gave me hope. Anyone who is a long way ahead of you can give hope,” she says.
“When they brought me the Liv Kit to test, I wanted to be a part of the hype around this amazingly simple device that would encourage women to self-examine. Then when we discussed the formation of the Liv Foundation, I was so thrilled because this way we could help fund the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre, plus help fund breast cancer research and other cancer-related causes. It all seemed to go together so perfectly. It might mean we’ll be the ones to discover a cure,” she proudly adds.
As breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, Olivia and women like her have a big job in impressing on others the importance of self-checks. In Australia one out of 11. women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and early detection, followed by prompt treatment, offers the best chance of survival.
Even though the incidence of breast cancer has increased, the survival rate is at an all time high because of early detection.
In spite of this encouraging news, only about 14 per cent of all women self-examine their breasts and more than half of these women perform it incorrectly. Olivia is committed to spreading the word about self-checks. “I am constantly shocked at how many women don’t self-examine because they are scared to find something,” she says strongly.
“I say it’s better to know. The earlier breast cancer is detected the better the result, and 95 per cent of women whose case is caught in its earliest stages will be healthy and disease-free five years after diagnosis, and sometimes even more. It’s a positive thing to self-examine, and it’s so easy with the Liv Kit.”
Despite being deeply involved in so many projects, Olivia still finds time to relax when visiting Australia and is the proud owner of a 32-hectare farm in the Byron Bay hinterland.
“When I get back to Australia, I feel grounded and revitalised,” she explains. “I come as often as I can, maybe three times a year.”
Olivia is also passionate about the Australian environment and has long been recognised for her environmental activism. “There’s something about the Australian landscape the trees, the smells and the birds. When we launched Koala Blue, we talked about the vibrancy and capturing that,” she says.
Olivia’s claims-to-fame list is too long to mention. She has had a major musical career and played sweet Sandra Dee alongside John Travolta in the hit musical Grease. Four Grammy awards, a Golden Globe and an Emmy later, Olivia is still unfazed by her achievements and maintains that life really is all about family and friends.
She is, however, not planning on giving up singing any time soon and is about to release a new album. “The album comes out in October and is called Indigo Women of Song,” confirms Olivia. “It’s a tribute to some of the wonderful women whose songs influenced me and my love of music when I was starting out.”
We look forward to seeing what else Olivia puts her heart and mind to in the future.
By Renate Ruge
The Liv Kit
This easy-to-use kit enables women to undertake breast self-exams on a monthly basis. It teaches women how and when to perform a breast self-exam and allows them to be active about their health. Proceeds of every Liv Kit sold benefit the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre. The Liv Kit is available through Golden Glow Natural Health Products and should be used in conjunction with regular check-ups by your health-care professional.
The Liv Kit includes:
The Liv Aid is a durable, re-usable breast self-examination pad for home use. The Liv Aid enhances touch drastically and allows fingers to easily glide across breast tissue.
The Liv Pouch - a specially designed bag to store and protect the Liv Aid.
The Liv Journal to track changes and record data.
The Liv Info Pamphlet, educating women on breast health.
The Liv CD - featuring Olivia’s inspirational story, her anthem and important information.
Breast Cancer Facts
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer-related death in Australian women. In Australia, one in 11 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 75.
Early detection, followed by prompt treatment, offers the best chance for a successful outcome. Although the incidence of breast cancer has risen, the survival rate is at an all-time high due to early detection.
Women under the age of 40 are not supposed to have mammograms, yet the only way to find breast cancer is through self-exam or clinical exam.
Most breast cancers are self-discovered but not noticed until the symptoms are obvious.
Source: Statistics from the Cancer Council (www. cancer.org.au) and information from The Liv Kit.