Alana Stewart Retells Farrah Fawcett's Cancer Battle

By PopEater Staff Posted Aug 17th 2009 10:44AM

In an honest and revealing feature story written for The Daily Mail, Alana Stewart opens up about her lifelong friendship with Farrah Fawcett, and sticking with the actress to the very end. "Farrah was the last person I ever thought would get cancer," Stewart reveals. "It never remotely crossed my mind that such a thing would happen. She was always too strong, too healthy, too full of life."

Stewart, who was a friend of Fawcett's since their early modeling days, talks about Fawcett's inspiring attitude, and her courageous fight against cancer. Stewart was present for much of Fawcett's treatment and recovery, even helping her document parts on a video camera.

"I would drop everything, leave my family and my dogs and my home and hop on a plane at a moment's notice if she needed me," Stewart says of their friendship. "I felt like she was also my family, that this was something I had to do and wanted to do and that I would worry about myself later."

In retelling the tale of Fawcett's final years, Stewart resorted to diary entries that she'd kept, going into detail about Fawcett's deteriorating condition and the physical and emotional tolls she was faced with. Stewart's new book, 'My Journey With Farrah: A Story of Life, Love and Friendship,' is a collection of such entries, giving readers a firsthand, personal reflection of Fawcett and her battle with cancer.

"It was very hard - sometimes unbearable - to watch my friend suffer but I was in awe of her ferocious determination," Stewart says. "I marvelled at her heroism in waging war with an enemy that gave no hint as to where it might attack next or how much it would destroy in its path."

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Remembering Farrah

Farrah Fawcett's storied career and life took many twists and turns along the way. Click to See Photos of Farrah and Her Journey Through he Years

Hulton Archive / Getty Images

A Look at Farrah Fawcett

After a long battle with cancer, Farrah Fawcett has died at the age of 62. Her longtime partner Ryan O'Neal was by her side when she passed away.

Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

The 'Charlie's Angel' star was diagnosed back in 2006. She filmed a documentary about her struggle with the disease called 'Farrah's Story.'

Barry King, WireImage

Fawcett has said of her cancer battle: "It's much easier to go through something and deal with it without being under a microscope. It was stressful. I was terrified of getting the chemo. It's not pleasant. And the radiation is not pleasant."

Getty Images

Farrah Fawcett poses with Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. Many her of friends will be speaking out about the actress in 'Farrah's Story,' a video diary of the actress' fight against anal cancer that has spread to her liver.

Jeff Kravitz, FilmMagic

Fawcett is best known for playing Jill Munroe in the series 'Charlie's Angels' back in the 1970s. Her undeniable sex appeal helped make the show a gigantic hit and established the actress as the top pin-up model for millions of men (and adolescent boys).

Everett Collection

It quickly became clear who the top Angel was on the show when it premiered in 1976, though Jaclyn Smith, left, and Kate Jackson were no slouches themselves. Fawcett left the show after only one season, but came back sporadically in later years. She was replaced by the also saucy Cheryl Ladd. The show ran until 1981.

Sony

Fawcett has always had an idea as to why the show was such a success with viewers. "When the show was number three, I figured it was our acting," she has said about ratings. "When it got to be number one, I decided it could only be because none of us wears a bra."

Everett Collection

Here, Farrah can be seen in action during a scene from the 'Fallen Angels' episode of 'Charlie's Angels' during the show's first season.

Everett Collection

The Texas native began doing shampoo commercials and TV guest spots in the early 1970s and eventually caught the eye of producers who cast the unknown beauty in 'Angels.' Her tousled and feathered hair style was "The Rachel" of its time and has been copied by generations.

Hulton Archive / Getty Images

She showed her acting chops -- and garnered one of three Emmy nominations -- for her portrayal as a battered wife in the acclaimed 1984 TV movie 'The Burning Bed.'

Michael Tighe, Hulton Archive / Getty Images

"I have kept journals since I was nine, and I would sometimes read Farrah what I had written in them. She loved my writing. 'You're such a good writer,' she'd say encouragingly. 'You must keep doing this,'" says Stewart.

"Leafing through the frantically scribbled entries – some written in the wee hours of the morning when I was too stressed to sleep – I found that book that Farrah had once suggested about two friends and their journey together. I suspect Farrah knew it was in there all along..."

What follows is several heartfelt excerpts from the book regarding Fawcett's initial diagnosis and subsequent cancer treatments. Stewart, ex-wife to George Hamilton and Rod Stewart, goes into details regarding Fawcett's treatment, their conversations and Fawcett's attitude throughout her illness.

Tags: alana stewart, AlanaStewart, farrah fawcett, FarrahFawcett

Comments

(92)

Monday 17 August

By Deb in CT

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I watched Farrah's story and was deeply moved by her courage and strength thru all her treatments. Alana seemed like a true friend where Ryan was always looking for the spot light... I wish her family and friends would celebrate her life w/o always looking at a profit margin.

I lost my father to cancer when he was only 48, it's a horrific disease in which no one is immune.

By Beverly Coffmon

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Ryan O'Neal stuck by Farrah every bit as much as did Alana...if you knew anything at all about the situation you would know that! He loved her with every inch of his being and for you to say someting that cruel is just plain asinine!!

By mary ann

Dear Deb, I am so sorry for your loss, I lost my mom to lung cancer on November 20, 2007 Cancer is a evil evil disease. And the sad thing about it is that the family members who care for these precious people are as angry at the disease as much as the person going through it. Your in my prayers Mary Ann in Arkansas

Tuesday 18 August

By nancycncrapr

I don't think that Ryan O'neal was trying to get the spot light. That is what the media did. As you can see in the pictures he was not posing. Her friend Alana Stewart should have been ashamed of the length of her dress. Why would she want to wear such a short dress at a time of her friends death. I guess she was man shopping while at the funeral.

By Kate

I'm suspicious of Ryan O'Neal, too. Farrah's cancer became a photo opportunity for him. I didn't feel he was sincere in his feelings for Farrah's. Griffin has repeated said Ryan was after Farrah's estate, so you have to wonder why his son would say that if there weren't a grain of truth to the comment. And Ryan hit on his daughter at Farrah's funeral because he didn't recognize her. Does it get more perverted then that? I say bad dad/bad man. Farrah RIP.

By RWA1957

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Why ofcourse Farrahs battle with cancer put BOTH Ryan O'Neal, AND, Alana Stewart in the spotlight of the papparazzi / cameras /media, etc. I would just be curious to know IF either Ryan, or, Alana footed any cash towards their frequent trips when Farrah would go there for the special treatments.
And at the very end, the pig Ryan wants to marry Farrah ( perhaps as to his advantage to have a little extra cash for his booze/drug/ women habits ? ) ?! Please....and Alanas writing this so called book...well, she's obviuosly in it for making extra bucks as well ( could be wrong; she could have a hefty piggy bank saved up from her former marriages ).

By Brigitte

Hahaha you mean the democrats of course.
They are the ones who want the government to run it all!

By Karen

I watched Farrah's Story when it was on tv. Cried through almost the entire show. Her strength and courage was awesome. It is too bad that when someone has that much strength and courage loses. Cancer is a very ugly disease that knows no boundaries. I lost my mother at 68 to this awful, dreadful disease. Rest In Peace Farrah. God Bless You

By gizmo1

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Alana Stewart barely waited until Farrah was buried before she launched a "book about her great friend"....how insensitive is this?? A great way to make money though! Friendship = money doesn't it?

By Kathy

Was thinking the same

By Linda

I can understand your saying or feeling that Farrah's friend was "cashing in" so soon after she was buried but having lost my husband to cancer 11 months ago, what I wouldn't have given to have put everything into words of the shorter journey we took. I don't believe it has to do with money but a way for her to cope with her own grief. It takes a lot to stand by someone with any disease that will in time take their life. She went way beyond what a "normal" friend did. I was my husband's soul mate for what seemed like life as was only a teen when I first met him. There is no preparing one for death. Be it short term as his was or long term as my mom's/Farrah's was. It is so very painful to watch one you love suffer through. It is a family disease, not just the patient's. I admire Alaina for doing what she is and hoping it's a legacy for her friend and brings her some comfort all be it, have a feeling she will do much of this writing through tears. Everyone isn't out for Cash. She doesn't need it. She needs support in the loss of someone she loved and sometimes those that were friends, get left out of the sympathy while the family gets plenty of it. May Farrah rest in peace and sureling wish Alaina the best in her own grieve process.

By karyn

Give Alana more credit than that..she was the most loyal friend Farrah had...Read her book and you will find out that alana was there every step of the way...........I do not believe she would even think of profiting anything...she just lost her best friend..............

By Ann

Farrah Fawcett's journey with a terminal illness captured all of us with reminders of our loved ones that died without a story to the world on how they lived and contributed to the family or society.Ryan O'Neal and Alana Stewart found an opportunity to get before the cameras and they played their roles well.Alana could not even expressed what she had learned from the death of her longtimed friend on Jane Mitchell show.People allow these two people to crawl back in their hole and allow Farrah to rest in peace.I have empathy for all the children that had no choice in their parents and they will find peace and love to move forward in their adult life with nothing but positive divine connections with friends and extened family to understand relationships in a healthy manner.It shows the networks will do anything for ratings and just what did Farrah do positive for anybody but her own self pleasure and beautiful hair that all the oldies remembered on Charlie Angels.Comparing her to an everyday person that shacks,domestic violence and baby out of wedlock and possible use of drugs could be anyone in the inner city that did not have the advantages that she had and she wasted them on self pleasure.I would like to have seen a much higher awareness of colon cancer and how it affects all economic levels in an astounding manner and those who know individuals give all the support you can even a smile.

By jeff

Either you type really fast or you need to get a life.

By miahnow

A true friend wouldn't talk about one who has already passed. Shame on her for trying to make money out of the death of a so-called friend.

By MSF

JUST BEFORE GOING ON THE TRIP TO BRECKENRIDGE, CO, WITH MY GIRLFRIENDS FAMILY IN 1997, I THOUGHT OF THE CONDO IN TX, SHE WAS STAYING AT. SHE SAID, FARRAH'S PARENTS LIVED THERE, AND THAT THEY THEY WERE VERY DOWN TO EARTH, AND FRIENDLY. I REGRET NOT MEETING THEM, AFTER WATCHING THEM IN FARRAH'S VIDEO. IT'S STILL HARD TO BELIEVE FARRAH IS GONE.

By Gee

Everyone knows this chick is only trying to cash in on Farrah's demise. Golddigger! She's only trying to get rich by gaining people's sympathy every time she appears on a talk show or news program just to fatten her greedy pockets. I can't stand people like this, they make me sick to my stomach! I can see right through this b-i-t-c-h.

By Val

Everyone should have a friend like Alana Stewart. I mean that sincerely. Women know that when the men in our lives fail us it's our girlfriends, our soul sisters that come through. I (along with my other girlfriends) went to my friend's bedside when she was sick with cancer and her husband was nowhere to be found. We fed her, adjusted her oxygen, rubbed lotion on her back, called the nurse for her, etc... until she died. I don't think her husband felt the loss as much as we did.
My condolences Alana, you were a faithful friend, you must really miss her.

By Jeannie

I totally agree with you..Alana was a true friend to Farrah...She only doing what Farrah ask her do with writting book...To Alert People about Cancer..especially, anal cancer..very treatable if caught in early stage..

By Cindy

I agree Val. She was a true friend.. Ryan is a dog.

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