Farrah Fawcett Breaks Silence On The Media Intrusion Into Her Cancer Struggle

Farrah Fawcett's two-hour cancer diary is airing on NBC this Friday, and she has broken her silence in print as well.

In an interview with ProPublica and the LA Times, she spoke at length about the media's intrusion into her life since her cancer diagnosis and how she's dealing with her illness:

The former "Charlie's Angels" star, 62, said she set up a real-life sting operation to prove to UCLA that one of its employees was leaking her medical data to the Enquirer. She also talked about the pressure she felt from the hospital to donate money to set up a foundation in her name.

Above all, in a firm voice that betrayed no hint of her terminal illness, Fawcett described how she was deprived of the choice that most other cancer patients have: when, and even whether, to share information with family, friends or strangers.

Read the whole thing here

And if you missed it, read People's exclusive with Ryan O'Neal from last week talking about the dire straits Fawcett is in and his heartbreak.

Comments

[BellaY]

Its outrageous that at this time in her life people are intruding into Farrah's privacy. Everybody needs to leave her alone and let her have some peace already. SMH

[JJThinking]

Best to her, and Patrick Swayze.

[Uppity1]

The Enquirer and UCLA were probably presuming that a woman enfeebled by cancer and no longer at the height of her star power, would not put up much of a fight against them. But her cancer documentary will probably be a huge ratings winner, proving once again her exceptional popularity. She's been a trailblazer in a number of ways, which she's not really given credit for. Her death will be a big shock to a lot of baby boomers, who she "grew up" with. She's meant to be around for another 20 years, not dying now.

[RoadCrossingChicken]

This is the worst kind of betrayal. There is no excuse for a medical facility of any kind to reveal one iota of your medical information.

It doesn't matter if you are a celebrity or not. If celebrities' medical records are fair game, then all of us are in danger of having our most personal business out there for all to see.

[THE JEDI 69]

Has Lee Majors made a statement...I hope he wishes her well

[cloudminder]

yes, story from EXTRA , with a video :

http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2006/11/farrah_fawcett_the_fight_of_he.php?page=1

it is so sad to see him talk about it- he is not a real openly emotional guy, and I think he thinks she is going to beat it-- but this is from a while back

[harriettubman]

Awww. I loved them together and remember when he was soo very frustrated with not having a regular marriage. There's no work in the world that keeps people apart if they want their marriage. Farrah was young and naive and wanted her career just as much as she did. That's the bottom line why Hollywood marriages just don't work, two people hungry for the same thing and can't eat together but separately.

[mrpuddles]

If she wanted privacy, she shouldn't have done a documentary/diary and her partner (Ryan O'Neal) shouldn't be giving interviews every day about her condition.

She can't be blaming the media for this.

[cloudminder]

she broke up with Ryan a decade ago, they are still friends, but she does not control him

regardless of the media, regardless of the documentary

UCLA EMPLOYEES HAD NO RIGHT TO SELL HER PRIVATE MEDICAL INFORMATION

[RoadCrossingChicken]

The Inquirer paid money for information they knew was stolen. That is illegal.

Being a celebrity is no reason to excuse this.

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

So little Miss Cali here is a known "friend" of Michael Phelps?

And one of Michael Phelps' "friends" sold him down the river by selling a pic of him partying with a bong?

Things are starting to make sense now.

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

i apologize for this comment. When I logged into this site, it somehow redirected me to this article. I meant no disrespect to Miss Faucett or her family.

I had asked the huffpomoderator to delete it, but apparently, they did not.

[genia]

Geez...all she's been through and going through and now things look so bleak .....she is hung up on this crap?
What a waste of precious time.

I wish her peace

[fcsakes]

Yeah, but it's HER time, not yours.

[cloudminder]

she gave the interview LAST AUGUST with instructions that it should be released by the producer of her documentary - when the documentary is set to air

it is not something she woke up complaining about this morning

READING COMPREHENSION ---PLEASE ---PEOPLE!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!

[RoadCrossingChicken]

Thank you!

It is nice to know that she is a very decent woman who wants to make sure that no one else has to go through something like this.

[artistgirl]

this is a crime. people, all people, even celebrities, should be given the right to privacy, especially when it comes to health issues.

farrah is making a stand because someone stole her privacy.

[blimie]

I hope for the best for her. She's been through a lot and with everything going on she's not taking garbage from people. Good luck to her and her family.

[harriettubman]

I agree with Farrah on this. The first time I was horrified beyond belief was years ago when I saw Tammy Wynette's condition splattered in the NE. Reading it, I just knew someone leaked her information.

UCLA had no right to do that to anyone. When they leaked info about Farrah and Britney I said someone or people need to be fired. I guess they don't care about HIPAA laws. If the roles were reversed they'd be screaming mad. How'd they like to walk in a grocery store and over hear an employee discussing their medical procedure or condition?

Wealthy families need to stop donating to some of these large hospitals that don't abide by HIPAA, and who want large donations in return for a wing named after their families. There isn't that much money in the world to betray someone's medical privacy.

[laurared]

The best way to stop this nonsense is for folks to STOP BUYING these celebrity rags

[Agentlady007]

Farrah Farrah Farrah, get a grip. You are famous. People will find a way to know things about you. It isn't because they don't care. It isn't because they want to betray you. They care. That's all it is. You know it goes with the territiry so pretend it doesn't. The last thing you need to do is emotionally start to feel threatened by anyone. You are better than that. We've loved you through the years, and we always will. There is sanctuary. You just need to find it within yourself. Beauty is only skin deep. You are probably known as one of the most famous beauties of all time. Never give up on hope.

With sincere respect and admiration.

Agentlady007

P.S. We know someone in common, your agent Jay Bernstein. He was a friend of mine. I was sorry to hear about his passing. He cared about you the most, and was very proud of you. I am sending you a gift. I hope you receive it. I hope it reminds you of Marilyn Monroe.

Bye bye for now.

[Agentlady007]

I meant to say so don't pretend it doesn't matter...you know what I meant.

Time for a song:
Amy Grant
Angels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYjwT9ANdbg&feature=PlayList&p=D7114C18B24C8476&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=78

[seattledemocrat]

WHAT, " It isn't because they want to betray you." The woman was paid $4,600 for leaking the private medical informatio­n...that's the definition of betrayal.

[Agentlady007]

Maybe she was worried Ryan O'Neill was keeping everything private when good doctors could prescribe alternative cures? Did you ever think of that? !!!

[sawdustinhershoes]

creepy

[Agentlady007]

Blah Blah Blah

[mairs]

I agree.

[ywcachieve]

Cling to hope, Farrah. Hope is powerful.

[Agentlady007]

Loving....I know she needs this.

[Agentlady007]

( You hold onto good karma, did anyone ever tell you this? I think it's a good thing to keep disseminating. )

[mairs]

You sound like a st@/ker.

[mairs]

You write like one. Overly familiar and tota//y n ut..s.

[officefan]

There is one thing we can all do to support her battle of cancer and her fight to have her privacy maintained when dealing with this issue.

We can all never buy the Enquirer. She is right they are paying people to break the law, but what about them breaking the law?

I knew someone years ago who was married to a big star, when she was dying of cancer they blackmailed her into giving an interview or they were going to come forward with all sorts of nonsense stories. She gave in and gave the interview as she wanted peace in her final days. This is disgusting behaivor, it slows down when we all stop buying that paper. They don't need more of our money to continue to berate the ill.

[nunzia]

I have never bought or read that dopey rag.
Can't imagine that many people here buy it.
It seems more like something Palin's devotees would buy and read.
It's their level.

[Agentlady007]

I've been on the cover many times. So what is your point?

[JDRNYC]

Farrah is an icon. As one of the original Charlie's Angels she exemplified a radiant beauty that few other women have matched. The hair, the smile, the body; all were perfection. I truly wish her the best of luck dealing with her illness.

[olddognewtrick]

You only get the publicity that you allow or tolerate...and it usually costs. Media whoring is the 3rd oldest profession.

[cloudminder]

of course, when you are in bed with no hair and sleeping most of the time
and you have anal cancer, and you are 5'7 and now weigh 80 lbs

the first thing you are thinking of is your Public Relations

she made the documentary to help other cancer patients, regular folks sometimes also do this and post on you tube or educate within their region

she is not selling anything- no movies to plug, no treatments she is selling on QVC etc

UCLA had no right to sell her info

[ywcachieve]

She is not down to 80 lbs.

[Agentlady007]

( I'm sending the hair. ) (((Be patient please.)))