Keeping good health - Daily Mirror

Keeping good health

Singer Olivia Newton—John beat breast cancer 25 years ago and has devoted herself to helping others suffering from the disease ever since. Here she tells how she has kept in good health since winning her cancer battle.

“I was always pretty health conscious. I exercised and ate healthily throughout my twenties and thirties, but I’d had some problems with lumps in my breast for a few years. When I discovered a tiny lump in 1992, I had a bad feeling about it. I saw my doctor and had a mammogram and that didn’t show anything. But I insisted there was something there and had a needle biopsy.

While I was waiting for the results, I few to see my father who was dying of liver cancer in Australia. I came back to America as I had a tour to prepare for, and then I got a message to call my doctor. On the same day, I got the call that my father had died. So it all came at once. I was diagnosed with breast cancer, which was a big shock. To suddenly be faced with a life threatening illness, when I had a young daughter, Chloe, was terrifying. And I lost my dad to cancer too.

The doctors advised me to have a modified radical mastectomy on my right breast. Back then, they did breast reconstruction at the same time as the surgery to remove the affected breast tissue.

Chemotherapy then took nine months instead of six as I had a low white blood cell count. At the same time as I was having the treatment, I was going to see alternative health practitioners. I went to see a homeopath and did yoga, meditation, had massages and took lots of herbs on the recommendation of my friend, John Easterling, who later became my husband.

After treatment, I was relieved to be declared free from the disease. I still had regular check—ups and made my health and fitness even more of a priority.

Some years ago, I was approached by The Austin Hospital, in Melbourne, who invited me to put my name to a cancer centre. It took 10 years to raise enough money for the Centre to open in 2012. It is called a Cancer and Wellness Centre, where patients undergoing conventional cancer treatment can also receive oncological acupuncture, reflexology and art and music therapy.

My dear mother passed away in 2003 and, sometime later, I drove with a good friend, Gregg, to my farm near Byron Bay in New South Wales, which she loved so much, to scatter her ashes. I happened to see an empty property, and we got the inspiration to set up an alternative healing centre and spa. That opened in 2005, and has been an amazing project to be involved in.

Since having breast cancer, I developed the Liv Kit, which is a product that helps improve sensitivity when a woman is checking her breasts for lumps. Also, my book Livwise, is full of healthy recipes for people who wish to eat well. I do believe in eating organically where possible and following as natural a diet as possible.

I’m here in the UK this month, promoting a new album I’ve put together with my friends, Amy Sky and Beth Nielsen Chapman, which are songs about sadness and loss. It has been inspired in part by the death of my beautiful sister, Rona, a little over three years ago.

Nowadays, I am feeling very well. I still have regular check ups on my breasts and take a range of botanical herbs and supplements to stay healthy.

With fundraising for the Olivia Newton—John Wellness and Research Centre, I will always be busy and we are hoping to get some breakthroughs in treatment soon. I sincerely hope that chemotherapy will be a thing of the past in my lifetime. We just have to hope scientists will find the answers soon.

If I ever feel I need to recharge my batteries, [head to my Gaia Retreat in Australia to get some healing therapies, smell the fresh air and just enjoy relaxing. I also believe music is a great healer to us on so many levels.”

Olivia Newton-John will be performing tonight with Beth Nielsen Chapman and Amy Sky at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, and at Union Chapel London on Thursday.