Pop star turned cancer advocate – the voice we needed

A pop star turned cancer advocate, Olivia Newton-John spent much of her later years fiercely fighting for awareness and further research

She began battling her third round of cancer in 2017, at the base of her spine.

Her initial diagnosis was all the way back in 1992, when doctors told her she had breast cancer, before discovering cancer again in her shoulder, following a car accident in 2013.

“My husband makes me tinctures that help me immensely with pain, inflammation, sleep and anxiety,” the singer told Closer.

We have lost a true Hollywood and “our girl” – the Australian icon

Life-saving legacy

Newton-John’s courage was more often than not a source of strength for the millions of people who are also fighting their own cancer battles.

At Melbourne’s Austin Hospital, Olivia Newton-John gave her name to the Cancer Wellness & Research Centre, because she believed so passionately in its philosophy of wellness.

For more than 10 years, Olivia championed the vision to build a world-class hospital, supporting patients in body, mind and spirit.

She received her OBE in 1979 and DBE in 2020, for her services to charity, cancer research and entertainment.

FDA APPROVES BREAKTHROUGH MEDICATION FOR WOMEN

On the same day her death is announced, the FDA approves the first medication for a newly recognised breast cancer, called Enhertu 

In clinical trials, the medication almost doubled the life expectancy of women living with the cancer without it getting any worse.

When compared with standard chemotherapy, it increased survival from around 17 months to 24 months.

The FDA says patients are eligible for Enhertu if the cancer has spread beyond the breast and they’ve already received standard chemo.