Olivia Newton-John Opens Up About Battling Cancer And 'Enjoying Life'
A New Interview
Actress and singer Olivia Newton-John sat down for a new interview with CBS Sunday Morning to talk about how she is coping with her third round of breast cancer and how she is handling her diagnosis.
She opened up about how the cancer has spread to her back and how medical marijuana helps deal with the "crying kind of pain." However, she remains in good spirits.
"I'm happy. I'm lucky. I'm grateful. I have much to live for. And I intend to keep on living it."
Not Dwelling On The Details
While many would be angry over this kind of diagnosis, Newton-John refuses to be a victim.
"No, 'Why me' has never been a part of it. I never felt victimized. I never felt, 'Why not?' Maybe deep down I knew there was a reason or a purpose for it, or maybe I needed to create one to make it okay for myself. Because, again, it's a decision: 'How am I gonna deal with it?'"
Part of how she manages her feelings and her state of mind is by not dwelling on the statistics and instead focusing on her own situation at a day-by-day basis.
"I think I know what the statistics are. But I put them away: But I'm gonna live longer than that. I've made that decision. And I don't buy into the statistics, 'cause I think they can make you really nervous."
Being Realistic But Undefeated
While she prefers to focus on the positive, that doesn't mean that she doesn't think about death, which is such a natural part of life.
"You have to think about it. I mean, it's part of life. And, of course, if you have a cancer diagnosis, your death is kind of there. Whereas most people, we don't have a clue when we're gonna die. And I could die tomorrow; a tree could fall on me. So, it's just that we have that knowledge that we could die. But I'm not – I try not to think about it too much. I try to meditate and be peaceful about it, and know that everyone I love is there, so there's something to look forward to."
The full interview will air on CBS Sunday Morning on September 29.
