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."

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=680015&pid=680014&uts=1250522755

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/movies/?s_channel=us.moviespop&s_account=aolnews,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

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)

Tuesday 18 August

By Bobby Trendy

Vote down Vote up Report this

I met MS Fawsett at starbucks..I will never forget meeting this legend!! Shes a legend for modern day women...Its okay to be a woman,be sexy and be a legend!!

By juansword88

As a kid after Kim Novak my favourite actress was
Farrah Fawsett. James Dean, my best male movie star.
As for the movie Dr. Zhivago. All are gone as time
goes by. Now it is Farrah's time to go. I am not
satisfied with medical world. Cancer is still
incurable disease that killed people young and adult.
One thing is true, Farrah. People die, but artists
don't.

By clelia

I always liked Farraw since I was a little girl growing up in Italy...I am very sorry she and everyone that get cancer have to suffer and sometime die so young...just like my beloved sister Cinzia that passed away The 25th of October 2007 of pancreatic cancer...she was only in her mid forties and I miss so much but most of all I feel pain when I think of all the terrible pains and suffering that people with cancer have to go throut...rest in peace Farraw and Cinzia some day we will be reunite again...
love ....Clelia & Juliette

By Paul

If Farrah had been on Obama's socialist Death Care she would have been dead years ago and that is a fact.

By demi

Ryan O'Neill is who he is of course he loved her they were together for 25 years. Griffin is a ex herion junkie who probably got a couple grand to say nasty things so he could support his dope habit.

By Prozacmomma

I feel that Alanna was a real true friend. From watching Farrahs video I feel she would have insisted on this book. All these movies galmorize this ugly disease and it's final demise from this illness is far from pretty.I personally I have seen first hand what she went through and it is not a picnic. I do hope as portion of sales from her book will go to a Cancer charity in Farrah's honor. I 'm sure that is something farrah will really love.Rset in Peace beautiful Farrah.

By stefan kalinka

Just got back from Alana's signing at the Grove in Los Angeles, CA.
There were about 35 people in attendance for what I believe was Alana's first signing of My Journey with Farrah.

Alana was very poised and looked terrific as she read many, many entries from her diary/book. She acknowledged that this was a very sad book but one that came from her heart. She was completely sincere and even a few of the doubters that were there later confessed that they now believe that she wrote this book with only the best intentions and was encouraged by Farrah herself.

Alana read for quite a long time and the audience was very attentive. She graciously signed and accepted pictures of Farrah and listened to stories from the attendees for the brief moment they shared with her.
I was sitting in front and you could not help but be moved by her genuine emotion and the love and care in which she read from her story.

I have to say she appears to be one of the best friends anyone could have. She sincerely loved Farrah and what they had seemed to be nothing but true friendship. Through their journey Alana shared that Farrah has made her look at her life in a different way. She was there with Farrah through it all and even had knowledge from the doctor in Germany that Farrah was worse off then he let on. No one wanted Farrah to lose hope. They all recognized her fighting spirit and determination to live no matter what. A+ to Alana on this one gang and boy did she look great! May we all have someone in our lives as dedicated and loving as Alana was to Farrah and vice versa.

By jillalane

I lost my father to throat cancer April 27, 2007. After going through the heartbreaking pain, absolute helplessness at the end of our loved ones cancer battle, and extreme exhaustion from fighting the cancer in your own way everyday along with the person that we love that actually has the cancer, we become cancers victims also. We willingly put aside everthing to research,(most of the time in the middle of the night), the cancer our loved one has, take them to their treatments, etc., and feel extreme guilt when we cannot find the right Dr., cure, or treatment that will curte them. Alana needs to tell HER story because every caretaker has one and her story was and is as important as Farrahs. I will read it.... I lived it...

By Gabbi

The anonymity of the internet sure brings out the hate and misery some people feel towards people you really know little about. I claim no knowledge of why Alana is writing the book, but there are many who will want to read it. I imagine it serves as a testement to her friend and thus helps her by have closure (I hate that word). I think it will be a book for the ages to tell of the bravery of Farrah as she faced the battle of all battles.

I don't claim to know Ryan's heart either. Even a dirt bag can feel pain when they lose someone they love. News reports make him sound horrible, but it is obvious that Farrah saw something in him that she loved.

All I know for sure is that a lady with the most beautiful smiloe I have ever seen, fought a brave battle which she ultimately lost. R.I.P. beautiful lady. Thank you Alana for recording the story and for being her friend.

By Nadine

Maybe if Alana would donate ALL the proceeds from the book to Farrah's fav charity, it would lay all money rumors to rest.

By 98272

This world is so cynical that a friendship like the one shared by Alana and Farrah needs to be written about. I admire both women because Farrah saw some really rough days, and her friend was with her through much of it. As far as Ryan it doesn't matter what we think of him, it only mattered what Farrah thought. When your living with a disease your judgement of those you love becomes much less intense, and you value their very presence. Peace to all.

By c wall

HHGregg SUCKS I would not shopp there if they were having a 100% off sale THEY SUCK

Page 5 of 5