Olivia Newton-John’s life changed in 1992 when she received a breast cancer diagnosis. “The diagnosis came the same weekend my father died of cancer, so you can imagine the shock,” she wrote later. What followed was many years of operations, chemotherapy, and breast reconstruction. “The whole experience has given me much understanding and compassion, so much so that I wanted to help others going through the same journey,” she wrote.
In an interview with “Today,” the singer explained that her experience with cancer taught her the importance of staying positive. “I think, you know, what you think creates your reality. So it’s a decision. You have to make that decision,” she said. “You can be a victim, or you can be a winner and enjoy your life.”
Newton-John ended up founding the ONJ Center to help facilitate cancer research with a focus on plant-based healing, and to offer support for other cancer patients. “My dream is that one day, the ONJ Center will be only about wellness, and we will no longer need cancer centers because cancer will be a thing of the past,” she wrote.