Olivia Newton-John wants 'everyone' to be offered medical cannabis as she battles breast cancer

The actress shared her diagnosis of stage 4 breast cancer in November last year

By Sara-Aisha Kent

 

The Australian actress, 70, opened up on her treatment - that has included the use of medicinal marijuana - following her diagnosis of stage-four breast cancer during the annual Wellness Walk and Research Run in Melbourne on Sunday.

Speaking to the crowd at the event, the Grease star shared: "I'm right here, right now, alive and health."

Before reflecting on this time last year, as she added: "I was flat on my back in the centre [the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre] and this year, through treatment and medicinal cannabis, I am feeling fantastic."

Olivia Newton-John has shared she is "feeling fantastic" as a result of medical cannabis (Image: FilmMagic)

Revealing her hopes for medical cannabis to be available for all cancer patients, she continued: "I hope to be able to soon offer that to everyone - that's my dream."

In August, the blonde admitted she doesn't know how much longer she'll live as the chance of a cure for her condition is very slim.

Speaking to 60 Minutes , she said: "When you're given a cancer diagnosis or a scary illness diagnosis, you are suddenly given a possibility of a time limit.

"If you believe the statistics, you're going to make them happen. If somebody tells you, 'you have six months to live', very possibly you will - because you believe that."

The star was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Olivia hopes medical marijuana will be more widespread in the future (Image: Getty)

Olivia decided it was better for her mental health if her doctors didn't tell her how long she had left, as she's chosen to put her efforts into cancer research.

The film star has been open about using cannabis, grown in her home in California, to help treat her symptoms.

Olivia previously explained: "When I broke my sacrum, I was on morphine because the pain was intense.

"I was terrified of starting it because I know it's a hard thing to ween off but I am now off it and I weened myself off it with cannabis."

In September last year she revealed the breast cancer had spread to the base of her spine.

The Australian previously discussed that she was unsure of how long she had to live (Image: TWITTER/@olivianj)

The shock diagnosis comes five years after her secret second battle with cancer and two decades after she first overcame the disease in 1992.

In January she was forced to deny she was "at death's door" as she recorded a video for fans saying she is "doing great".

In a video released on Twitter , she said: "Happy New Year everyone, this is Olivia Newton-John and I just want to say that the rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated, to quote a very famous quote.

"And I am doing great and want to wish all of you the happiest, healthiest 2019 as possible and thank you all for your wonderful love and support for me and for my Olivia Newton-John cancer wellness centre in Melbourne, Australia.