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Pamela Anderson Opens Up About Hepatitis C Diagnosis in '90s
Confirmed
In Short: Pamela Anderson has spoken about her hepatitis C diagnosis in the 1990s, revealing the impact it had on her life and decision-making.
The diagnosis, which she contracted through needle sharing with ex-husband Tommy Lee, left Anderson with a sense of shame and guilt. "But my experience of shame and guilt was also an unconscious journey. It stays with me; it haunts me," she said, according to For Women First. Anderson's remarks at the event highlighted her ongoing struggle with the emotional impact of her diagnosis.
Anderson's journey with hepatitis C is a testament to the challenges faced by those diagnosed with the virus before the advent of effective treatments. "It was a terrifying time, and it took a toll on my decision-making skills," she explained, according to Female First. The actress was given around 10 years to live when she was diagnosed, but with the discovery of a cure in 2011, she was able to receive treatment and recover.
The Last Showgirl star's openness about her experience serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of raising awareness about hepatitis C and the need for continued research into effective treatments. "I am still haunted by the shame and guilt I felt over contracting hepatitis C," Anderson concluded, emphasizing the lasting impact of her diagnosis.
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- Pamela Anderson was diagnosed with hepatitis C in the 1990s The Baywatch actress thinks being told she had the viral infection in the late 1990s "corrupted" her decision-making skills because she was terrified for what the future held for herself and her and Tommy Lee's sons, Brandon, now 30, and Dylan, now 28.
- A cure for the infection was discovered in 2011 and by 2015, Pamela was "hep C free", though at a financial cost.
- Variety reported on Monday, September 7, that Anderson, 59, revisited that frightening period while accepting amfAR’s Award of Courage in Venice on September 6.
- Anderson eventually received treatment and announced in 2015 that she was “hep C free”, as per People.
- Pamela Anderson spent years living with the belief that her life could be cut dramatically short after receiving a hepatitis C diagnosis in the late 1990s.
- Anderson ended her remarks with a clear statement about how she sees herself today.
- Pamela Anderson has revealed she was delivered a diagnosis that amounted to a “death sentence” at the height of her fame in the 1990s.
- AP Photo/Scott A Garfitt “Back in the late 90s when I was diagnosed with hepatitis C there was no cure,” she said as she collected the Award of Courage at the AIDS charity event.