Charlotte Rae has been diagnosed with bone cancer!
The 91-year-old actress, who is best known for her role as ‘Edna Garrett’ on the 1980’s sitcoms, “Different Strokes” and “The Facts of Life” now has the decision of her life — whether or not to undergo chemo again!
“About seven years ago, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer … which is a miracle that they found it because usually it’s too late. My mother, sister and my uncle died of pancreatic cancer,” said the star. “After six months of chemotherapy, I was cancer-free. I lost my hair, but I had beautiful wigs. Nobody even knew.”
Rae was recently supposed to begin treatment but put it off. Now she’s decided that she can handle the side effects again.
“So now, at the age of 91, I’m not in any pain right now. I’m feeling so terrific and so glad to be above ground,” she explains. “Now I have to figure out whether I want to go have treatment again to opt for life. I love life. I’ve had a wonderful one already.”
In her 2015 autobiography, “The Facts of My Life,” Rae revealed personal tragedies in her life — losing her oldest son and discovering her late husband, composer John Strauss was bisexual — after 25 years of marriage!
“It just blew me away,” says Rae. “I was absolutely devastated.”
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The couple divorced in 1976 — two years before she starred on TV.
Strauss died in 2011, but Rae never remarried.
Her autistic son Andy was hospitalized as a teenager — and died of a heart attack in his 40s!
She also tackles her struggles with booze and her treatment for pancreatic cancer — a disease that killed her older sister and mother.
Despite her many ups and downs, the actress has a positive outlook on her final days.
“At 91, every day is a birthday,” she said. “I’m grateful for the life I’ve already had.”
