Months ago, Valerie Harper thought she only had a short amount of time left to live after her diagnosis of terminal brain cancer, but the 74-year-old TV icon and her doctors have shared some wonderful news about her health.
On Thursday, the “Today” show previewed a portion of “Valerie’s Story – a Meredith Vieira Special,” where her neuro-oncologist Dr.
Jeremy Rudnick spoke about her cancer fitght.
READ: Valerie Harper: ‘I’m Living A Normal Life’ Following Brain Cancer Diagnosis
“I’d say that we’re getting pretty close to a remission,” Harper’s physician said.
“It defies the odds,” he added.
News of the Emmy-winning actress’ improvements will air in an hour-long documentary on September 19 at 10 PM on NBC, where she’ll delve into her cancer battle, where she’s using traditional chemotherapy alongside acupuncture and Chinese tea.
Dr. Rudnick warned that often the cancer can develop a “resistance to the therapy. And it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when [it will become resistant].”
“Life is about buying time,” Dr. Rudnick continued.
“Exactly. That’s what I always say,” Harper said in the piece.
In March, to discuss her cancer battle.
“I want [the public] to know that I’m there and I’m fighting this thing and that death is a part of life and it’s almost a privilege or advantage to know because a lot of us push death away, don’t look at it, don’t want to think about it… You shouldn’t spend time morosely looking at it, but you do have to face it,” she explained. “None of us are getting out of this alive, we are all terminal. It just depends when.”
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