Olivia Newton-John Dies Decades After Receiving a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

August 8, 2022
Brielle Benyon
Brielle Benyon

Brielle Benyon, Assistant Managing Editor for CURE®, has been with MJH Life Sciences since 2016. She has served as an editor on both CURE and its sister publication, Oncology Nursing News. Brielle is a graduate from The College of New Jersey. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, CrossFit and wishing she had the grace and confidence of her toddler-aged daughter.

Actress/musician Olivia Newton-John has died after a long bout with breast cancer.

Actress and musician Olivia Newton-John died after a decades-long experience with breast cancer, according to a statement on her Instagram page that was posted by her husband.

She was 73 years old.

“Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer,” the statement said.

The “Grease” star and voice behind the hit song “Let’s Get Physical” announced in 2017 that she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer — this is after initially being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. She underwent a partial mastectomy before the cancer came back in 2013, and again in 2017.

Since making her diagnosis public, Newton-John has advocated for people affected by the disease and also established the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia, as well as the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, which raises money for research toward plant-based medicine.

Back in 2018, Newton-John announced that she was using medical marijuana for her disease.

The star also was an inspiration to others with cancer. CURE® contributor Martha Carlson, who is living with metastatic breast cancer wrote in 2018, “Newton-John is a symbol of hope and inspiration to many.”

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