Tammy Faye: Doctors Have Stopped Trying To Treat My Cancer

CHARLOTTE, NC (May 10, 2007) — Tammy Faye Messner (formerly Tammy Faye Bakker), 65, has announced on her Web site that she has reached a tragic turning point in her battle against cancer, saying that doctors have stopped trying to treat it and that it’s now “up to God and my faith.”

The former televangelist and talk show host has battled both colon cancer and lung cancer in recent years. She appeared on “Larry King Live” numerous times from 2004 until 2006 to discuss her cancer battle, and in March of 2006, she confirmed to King that she had Stage 4 lung cancer.Messner, who says she is now down to a weight of 65 pounds, expresses her heartfelt gratitude to friends and family who have supported her through these difficult times, and urges anyone suffering as she is to not give up. She writes, “Make up your mind you’re going to LIVE!!” Tammy Faye rose to fame in the mid 1970’s, when she started her PTL ministry with former husband Jim Bakker. She often provided a sentimental touch to stories and loved to sing on those shows. With an outlook that differed from most ministers of the time, she showed a more tolerant attitude when it came to homosexuals, and she featured people living with AIDS on PTL, urging her viewers to follow Christ and show sympathy and pray for the sick.Following the collapse of PTL, and a divorce from Bakker in 1992, Tammy Faye remarried and hosted a talk show with Jim J. Bullock.Messner is the subject of two documentaries, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” and “Tammy Faye: Death Defying,” which chronicles her battle with cancer. She is also the author of numerous books, and has recorded multiple faith-based albums.She re-entered the pop-culture lexicon in 2004, when she appeared on the hit VH1 reality series, “The Surreal Life,” alongside porn star Ron Jeremy and rapper Vanilla Ice, among others.She also wrote the 2003 best seller, “I Will Survive… And You Will Too.” Her broad appeal was evident, as her book signing brought people of all ages, and from all walks of life — including punks, gays, transvestites and religious followers.Tammy Faye has two children, Tammy Sue Bakker Chapman, 37 , and Jamie Charles (Jay) Bakker, 21, who was the subject of a documentary on Sundance Channel called “One Punk Under God: The Prodigal Son of Jim and Tammy Faye.”May 8, 2007 My Dear Faithful Friends,Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, 4th of July and several birthdays of family and friends. Envelopes have become separated, or they are still in piles all over the place to send as yet. I have been on so much medication, so many have been trying to help with thank-you notes……I don’t know.Thank you for the rooms full of flowers, the tables full of cards, and beautiful little gifts laying everywhere. Thank you so much! I know I have missed so many gifts I should have sent for these special occasions. And then, trusting God to heal my sick stomach. Please try to understand.The doctors have stopped trying to treat the cancer and so now it’s up to God and my faith. And that’s enough! But please continue to pray for the pain and sick stomach.My precious daughter, Tammy Sue, and her wonderful friends are staying with me while Roe builds churches. They don’t want me falling down the stairs. I am down weight wise to 65 pounds, and look like a scarecrow. I need God’s miracle to swallow.To those of you who are suffering as I…..”don’t give up”!! Make up your mind you’re going to LIVE !! That is NOT EASY! The path gets so long. I look at young people and wish with all my heart for just one day of “feeling great”. You see, God gives out his promises, they do not lie, they do not fail. We do not have to BEG him for them, they are FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!You CAN make it!Love,Tammy Faye

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