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Pamela: Only 10 Years to Live?
« on: Oct 22nd, 2003, 4:20pm » |
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Pamela: Only 10 Years to Live?
by Sarah Hall
Oct 22, 2003, 6:55 AM PT
Pamela Anderson is not a woman to cover much up.
When it comes to her life expectancy and her marital plans, she's candid as ever--both have been cut short.
The buxom blonde, who suffers from hepatitis C, has told Us Weekly that she expects the virus to kill her--possibly within the next decade.
"I think I got a good 10 years left in me, which is sad, too," Anderson says in the magazine. "Maybe 15, if I'm lucky."
About 3.9 million Americans are infected with hepatitis C, and between 8,000 and 10,000 people in this country die each year of complications associated with the virus. The disease causes swelling in the liver, which keeps the organ from performing its basic function of cleansing the blood, and can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure.
"First my doctor just told me I had a glitch in my blood work, then he told me about the disease," Anderson recalled. "He said that it was going to be what I would die from."
Anderson blames her infection on ex-hubby, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, who she says passed the virus to her through shared tattoo needles; the rocker has denied he has the disease.
Most hepatitis patients fight the disease by following a regimen of anti-viral drugs, which successfully control the disease about half of the time.
In July 2002, Anderson announced on Larry King Live that she would be on hiatus from Hollywood while she began her treatment.
But since then, Anderson, never one to pursue the traditional route, has shied away from taking interferon, the drug many hepatitis patients use to battle the virus. The drug requires frequent injections for months at a time, and can cause flu-like side effects.
Instead the actress has been using homeopathic methods to treat the hepatitis. While's she not ruling out using interferon eventually, the PETA-peddler wants to give nature first dibs on fighting the virus. So far, she said, she's feeling great.
"I'm bad with needles," Anderson explains in Us. "If I had no other choice, I'd use it, but I'm waiting to see how the natural methods work."
On top of her unfortunate prognosis about her health, the actress also confirmed that she has called off her pending nuptials with singer Kid Rock.
"Bob [the rocker's real name] is great--I just saw him this morning--but we're not engaged any more," the nixin' vixen says in the mag. "I'm really surprised that anyone is even interested. Where's Ben and Jennifer this week? That's more interesting!"
The Baywatch alum says that her children with Lee, sons Brandon, 7, and Dylan, 5, are her first priority and classified everything else in her life as an "extracurricular activity."
However, Anderson, who once had only harsh words for the father of her children, seems to have re-warmed towards the man with whom she once shared mutual tattoos.
"There's definitely a lot of love and history between Tommy and me, that's for sure. It doesn't matter whether we're together or not," she tells Us Weekly. "We're crazy about each other--always have been, always will be."
(Lee recently called of his engagement to Mayte Garcia, who, as it happens in the mad game of Hollywood couples roulette, was once married to Prince.)
Despite her health problems, Anderson's professional life is progressing smoothly. She has a cameo role as a Catholic schoolgirl in Scary Movie 3, opening Friday, and voices sexy cartoon superhero Stripperella for the Spike TV show of the same name.
Her topless radio talk show, Club Pam is set for launch on Sirius satellite radio this Friday (yes, we said topless); and by next spring, her own line of merchandise, featuring everything from panties to perfume, will be up for grabs.
She has a monthly column in Jane magazine, and is penning two novels for Atria books; the first From the Waist Up is due out in 2004.
Overall, Anderson is pragmatic about her situation.
"We all have a short time on this earth--some of us shorter than others," she said. "I'm not going to fall for the drama."
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